Food That Cause Acid Reflux Disease

Heartburn. Chest pain. Coughing and breathing discomfort. We have all experienced it after a particularly good bowl of chili or too much coffee in the morning. But is it just heartburn, or a sign of something more dangerous? Whether it is acute or chronic, acid reflux--also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)--isn't comfortable and can lead to serious problems and complications down the road as well as significant amounts of pain and discomfort in the short run.
Acid reflux is most often triggered by the foods we eat, however, and a person's diet is a big factor in how painful the condition can become. Here are a few foods that trigger acid regurgitation.

Causes

Acid reflux sufferers can take heartburn off their daily agenda simply by avoiding foods with acidic properties that stimulate the production of acid in the stomach. Some of these foods also relax the lower esophageal sphincter and make it easier for acid to make its way up to the esophagus where it does not belong.

Citrus products, such as lemons, oranges, pineapples and limes, in fruit or juice form, all cause reflux. Also acid inducing are foods that are laden with garlic and onions, tomato products and peppermint. Watch out before you have that lunch meat sandwich: processed meat--like hot dogs, lunch meat and sausages--are foods that cause acid reflux. Also stay away from cooking with gravy, heavy cream, meat drippings and butter, avoid indulging in pies, cookies, cakes and ice cream and eliminate snacking on potato chips.

In general, foods that cause GERD and acid reflux are spicy, fatty and acidic.

Spicy Foods

Watch out, chili lovers--if you have even a spoonful of a hot Texas chili, the spices and tomatoes in the mix will make you seriously uncomfortable.

When eating ethnic foods where heat-inducing ingredients like spices and chili peppers are used regularly, such as Indian, Mexican and Chinese cuisine, ask that your food be prepared as mildly as possible. Some other spices to stay away from include Cajun spices, curry powder and any kind of pepper, from mild bell peppers to hot jalapenos and habaneros.

Fatty/Fried Foods

While fast-food french fries, fish fries and batter-fried veggies might be delicious, the frying process creates acid reflux. Instead, try baking or boiling potatoes, fish and vegetables. Avoid creamed corn and spinach; instead, eat those vegetables plain. Onion rings are a double doozy when it comes to stimulating acid production in the stomach, so acid reflux sufferers should stay away from them.

Another tactic for easy reflux reduction is to adapt to lower-fat versions of your favorite foods. Instead of drinking whole milk, pour a glass of skim. Don't eat soups with a cream base, like cream of mushroom; instead, only eat soups with a vegetable or chicken broth base. Instead of Thousand Island or bleu cheese dressing, a low-fat house or Italian will do fine.

Finally, swathing foods in gravies, oils, heavy cream, meat drippings and butter also turns a food into an acid factory. Southern American foods are often guilty of this and can be converted into tasty, lower-fat versions.

Acidic Habits

At a particular risk for acid reflux are caffeine addicts and people who drink alcohol. Although integral to our culture, coffee, tea and soda are all acidic drinks that can cause problems in a patient with chronic acid reflux. Alcohol also aids in acid secretion and relaxes the esophageal sphincter, making it easier for acid to escape into the esophagus. If you like carbonated sodas, consider switching to approved, non-citrus fruit juice.

Another bad habit that results in GERD or acid reflux is eating too much at once and eating enough to become overweight. Eating smaller meals throughout the day, rather than three big ones, can ease the strain on an acid-prone stomach and make sufferers feel better.

Solutions/Prevention

Here's the good part: Since GERD, or acid reflux, is often triggered by the foods people eat, reflux and its painful symptoms can easily be managed through a combination of medication and a change in diet. Emily Rubin, a registered dietician at Jefferson University Hospitals in New Jersey, says that by reducing acidic, fatty and irritating foods like coffee, tomatoes, citrus and onions, sufferers of acid reflux can ease their pain and start enjoying their meals again. Rubin also says that a diet high in neutral foods such as wheat breads, lean meat and baked potatoes can help reduce acid regurgitation. Reflux-prone people can snack on apples, carrots, spinach and other non-acidic and healthy veggies.