Acid reflux is a condition that occurs when acids from your stomach flow back up into your esophagus. When you eat, food travels down your esophagus and passes through a muscle called the esophageal sphincter muscle. This muscle operates much like a valve, opening to let food pass into the stomach and then closing behind it. In some cases, this muscle becomes weak and does not close properly. When this happens, stomach acids flow back into the esophagus causing esophageal pain and burning that can last for hours in some cases. Certain foods can cause weakening of the esophageal sphincter muscle and irritate the esophagus. Avoiding these foods will help you alleviate the discomfort caused by acid reflux.
Spicy Foods
If you have acid reflux you need to avoid spicy foods. Do not eat hot peppers, onions or garlic. Avoid spicy seasonings such as black pepper, chili powder, curry and hot sauces. Avoid all of those spicy Mexican and Thai dishes as well. Also, do not eat any foods that cause you to experience burning or pain in your esophagus.
High-Fat Foods
Avoid all fatty and fried foods. This means no french fries or fried meats. Eat low-fat meats such as skinless poultry, fish or pork and eat less beef and high-fat processed meats such as ham, bacon and sausage. Avoid potato chips and other greasy snacks and choose baked chips and air-popped popcorn instead. In addition, when it comes to dairy products, avoid full-fat dairy products and opt for low-fat or fat-free instead.
High-Acid Foods
Do not consume any foods that are high in acid. This includes citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, lemons and limes as well as all citrus juices. Refrain from eating tomatoes and tomato-based products including tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and chili. Also, do not drink tomato juice or vegetable juices containing tomato juice.
Miscellaneous Foods
Do not drink caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea or soda and do not eat any products containing chocolate. Do not consume carbonated beverages and do not drink any alcoholic beverages. In addition, do not consume any products that contain spearmint or peppermint. If you are unsure how you may react to a particular food or beverage, try it first in very small amounts to see how well you tolerate it.
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