List of Foods Not to Eat for People With Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is also referred to as heartburn. Although the two are related, acid reflux refers to the actual action of what is causing the sensation of heartburn. Regardless of semantics, acid reflux is a common, uncomfortable and sometimes painful condition for many people. Many medications exist for treating acid reflux but there are dietary changes one can make which can help. Learning which foods aggravate acid reflux is the first step in reducing episodes of this painful condition.

Actions of Acid Reflux

As any sufferer can guess, reflux refers to a "flowing back" and acid is what is flowing. The stomach acids are strong and are not intended to move back into the esophagus, which cannot protect itself against these acids. When acid reflux occurs, there's a failure of the lower sphincter--circular muscles that close an opening---in the esophagus. The muscle is too weak to close properly and the acids flow in reverse. Heartburn is the unpleasant result.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux

Although heartburn is the universally described symptom, other problems can be a result of acid reflux. Teeth can erode quicker than normal and it's not uncommon to feel chest pain along with heartburn. Such pain is similar to symptoms of heart attack and can delay treatment. Asthma is a little-known symptom caused by the movement of the gastric acid into the respiratory tract and causing irritation. Vocal cords become irritated resulting in a horse voice and food can sometimes be brought back up into the mouth when acid reflux happens.

Fatty Foods

The most aggravating food for acid reflux and heartburn is one that many people enjoy and hate to give up. Foods with high fat contents are relaxing and not to just the stomach. The fat affects the lower esophageal sphincter, which protects the esophagus, by relaxing it as well. This greatly increases the chance that the stomach acids will flow backward. Also, fat digests slowly so food stays in the stomach for a longer period. The longer food is present in the stomach, the greater the amount of acid and increased likelihood of acid reflux. Avoid fatty foods to help reduce acid reflux occurrences.

Vegetables, Fruits, Spicy Foods and Sweets

Some of the most healthful foods can be the worst for sufferers of acid reflux. Citrus foods include oranges, grapefruit and pineapple, and are irritating. Vegetables also can be irritating such as tomatoes, ketchup, beans, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Spices or spicy foods are also suspect such as garlic, black pepper and vinegar. Sweets such as chocolate, spearmint and peppermint are also on the list.

Beverages and Other

Coffee and tea should be avoided--caffeinated and decaffeinated. Some patients also report that carbonated drinks aggravate acid reflux, so watch your consumption of caffeinated sodas in particular. Because citrus is irritating, stay away from orange juice, grapefruit juice and pineapple juice. Avoid whole milk, cold cuts such as sausage and bacon--due to the fat content--and watch out for any fried foods.