A List Of Foods To Avoid With Acid Reflux

If you have acid reflux, you know that familiar feeling after you've eaten a meal or exercised. Your chest feels tight, and you feel a fire inside at the bottom of your neck that no amount of cold water can relieve.

Many sufferers turn to over-the-counter antacids, the kind that come in little rolls like breath mints. These products often provide relief for a few minutes, but soon the burning returns, seemingly worse than it was in the first place. Like many sufferers, you wish you knew which foods to avoid with acid reflux, to keep it from happening again.

Damage From Acid Reflux

Inside your body, acid reflux may be doing permanent damage to your esophagus. Over time, this damage can increase your risk for getting esophageal cancer. Some acid reflux sufferers must have their esophagus examined with a scope, like a tracheoscopy, every year, to inspect the sensitive tissue for damage that could lead to cancer. Learning to avoid certain foods with acid reflux consequences seems preferable to undergoing such an invasive, expensive procedure every year.

Foods To Avoid

With acid reflux, diet is key. Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter muscle relaxes, loosening the seal between the stomach, where acid is stored, and the esophagus, where tender tissue need to be protected from acid. Certain foods encourage the sphincter muscle to relax, and should be avoided.

Caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, tea, and cola drinks, can contribute to the occurrence of acid reflux. Similarly, alcoholic beverages – including wine and beer – can cause acid reflux symptoms to flare up. These are all beverages, or foods, to avoid with acid reflux symptoms. 

Sadly for many, chocolate can also cause acid reflux symptoms. Other foods that contribute to acid reflux are garlic and onions, as well as peppermint, spearmint, and hot, spicy foods. If you are plagued with acid reflux, these are foods to avoid.

Behavior To Avoid

Just as the wrong foods can contribute to acid reflux, there are certain behaviors that can also loosen the lower esophageal sphincter muscle and result in acid reflux symptoms. Pregnancy can temporarily cause acid reflux, but symptoms virtually always subside after the baby comes. Wearing tight clothing can also trigger symptoms or make them worse.

When you eat can be as important as what you eat when you are trying to avoid acid reflux. Sufferers should stop eating at least three hours before bedtime, as late-night eating has been known to exacerbate acid reflux symptoms.