Foods To Avoid If You Have Heartburn

Heartburn is a painful, burning sensation in the chest area experienced by more than 60 million Americans. It's often accompanied by indigestion, bloating, shortness of breath and/or a sour taste in the throat. Almost everyone experiences heartburn on occasion. However, ongoing heartburn can damage the lining of the esophagus and cause serious problems, so it's important to treat it right away. Because heartburn is often caused by the food we eat, knowing which foods to avoid can help relieve the symptoms and allow the body to heal the underlying causes. Even though the foods that cause heartburn are slightly different for each person, some foods are common triggers.

Alcohol and Other Beverages

Alcohol is one of the most significant triggers of heartburn and should be completely avoided until the condition is resolved. Some people can tolerate an occasional glass of wine without heartburn. Other beverages to avoid include tea (especially peppermint and spearmint), coffee (regular or decaffeinated) and all sodas or other carbonated drinks.

Fried and Spicy Foods

Avoid all fast foods, fried foods and spicy foods, as these stimulate the production of stomach acid and heartburn for most people who are symptomatic. Cutting out these foods usually means being better prepared to eat healthier meals (such as salads, whole grains, legumes, grilled fish or meat) rather than eating fried, processed or fast food on the run.

Chocolate

Cutting out chocolate is a difficult challenge for most people because it can be addictive. However, it's one of the worst offenders for triggering heartburn. This includes all types of chocolate found in cakes, pies, ice cream, brownies, candy bars and other sweet treats.

Tomatoes and Tomato Sauces

All tomatoes and tomato-based food products, such as marinara sauces, can cause heartburn distress. For this reason, many people with heartburn have a difficult time with Italian and Mexican foods. In addition to tomatoes and tomato sauces, all rich sauces, gravies and highly seasoned foods are often problematic.

Citrus Fruits and Juices

Even though eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to alleviate heartburn, certain fruits and vegetables can trigger heartburn because of their acid content. Citrus fruits and juices tend to be the most common triggers in this food group. However, potatoes, raw onions and cranberries are also potential foods to avoid.

Dairy Products

A number of dairy products (especially full-fat varieties) can trigger heartburn--especially milk, sour cream, ice cream, milkshakes and cottage cheese. Contrary to popular belief, milk is not an effective food for calming the stomach. Most people, in fact, don't tolerate milk and other dairy products well.