GERD, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, describes chronic heartburn from acid reflux. If you suffer from GERD or heartburn, you'll experience pain in the mid-chest area that isn't related to heart disease but rather from acid burn in the esophagus as stomach contents leak out. Every person has individual triggers that make symptoms worse, but certain foods are the worst offenders to most GERD sufferers.
Acidity
All foods have a pH measurement that indicates whether the food is alkaline or acidic. The stomach has a very low acidic measurement between 2 and 3 pH. The addition of acidic foods further irritates the lower esophageal sphincter and causes more leakage into the esophagus. Thus, you should avoid acidic foods such as citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, vinegar and mustard.
Drinks
Make smart choices when selecting what to drink. Certain drinks can increase the likelihood of heartburn, such as coffee, tea, colas and carbonated drinks. Excess alcohol can also relax the lower esophageal sphincter and result in leakage of stomach acid into the lower esophagus. Caffeinated fluids will increase the acid production in the stomach. In addition, soda can cause bloating, which can lead to heartburn.
High-Fat Foods
The longer it takes food to digest, the higher the risk that it can irritate the lower esophageal sphincter and leak acid into the esophagus and cause symptoms. High-fat foods will stay in the stomach longer. Eating larger servings of high-fat foods, such as fried chicken, potato chips, cheese sauces, chocolate, mayonnaise salads and processed foods will increase your risk of heartburn. You may also risk triggering heartburn by eating too much of these fatty foods in one sitting.
Spicy Foods
Spicy foods, such as chili, pizza or curry can increase acidity in the stomach and the likelihood that you'll experience heartburn. Not only hot foods, but also cool foods such as peppermints can relax the lower esophageal sphincter and trigger heartburn. Not everyone will suffer from heartburn from spicy food or mints, but they are common triggers that you should test yourself.
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