Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is an irritation of the esophagus that is caused when stomach acid flows up and through the esophageal sphincter. This can cause nausea and heartburn. Certain foods make the symptoms of GERD worse.
Fatty Foods
Limit your intake of fatty foods. Avoid fried food and remove visible fat from meat before eating. Fat is slow to empty from the stomach and increases the risk of reflux.
Chocolate
Chocolate is one of the foods to avoid when you have GERD. According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, chocolate has an ingredient called methylxanthine, which relaxes the muscles of the esophagus and thereby increases the risk of reflux.
Coffee and Soft Drinks
Soft drinks and coffee may promote reflux in some people but not all. Limit these beverages according to individual preference.
Acidic Foods
Citrus foods like oranges, orange juice and grapefruit can increase the risk of gastroesophageal reflux. Foods made from tomatoes like tomato juice, pizza sauce and pasta sauce may not be tolerated by some people who have GERD.
Other Foods
Not everyone with GERD reacts to the same food in the same way; your individual triggers must be identified and avoided. Some other foods that are known to increase the severity of GERD symptoms are alcohol, peppermint, spearmint, whole milk and fast food.
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