Surprising Trigger Foods For GERD

Heartburn is the burning sensation individuals experience when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. It is quite painful. Sometimes this is no more than an occasional irritation, but chronic heartburn does progress to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This condition results in heartburn and acid reflux at least twice a week over a long period. GERD often causes damage to the esophagus since the stomach acid flows back up so often. Food is a serious trigger for episodes of heartburn in GERD.

There is heartburn relief medication available, including GERD over-the-counter options. Indigestion tablets are also available. That said, lifestyle changes are still necessary, since this condition is a lifelong one.

Anything With Caffeine

Caffeine is a major trigger for GERD and its heartburn since most items with caffeine are very acidic. Unfortunately, avoiding caffeine in food is hard. The obvious things to avoid are coffee, dark soda, and many kinds of tea. This includes green tea and even flavored lattes. However, individuals must still look at labels on food and drinks carefully. There is caffeine in desserts made with chocolate, after all. Packaged foods are the most concerning in terms of caffeine, since they contain many added ingredients like this.

Individuals who have a lot of caffeine every day must reduce their consumption slowly. This will hopefully let them avoid serious caffeine withdrawal. A major sign of caffeine withdrawal is severe headaches. They should start by cutting their intake down by 25 percent and maintain the new amount for a few days to a week. They can then cut another quarter or even half off. This should be done every few days until they are no longer consuming caffeine.

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Foods High In Fat

Fatty foods are harder to digest, so the fat sits in the stomach for longer. This blocks it up, letting acid flow back into the esophagus and triggering an episode of GERD. Unfortunately, foods that are high in fat are everywhere. Both major forms of fat, saturated and unsaturated, cause issues with digestion. Those with GERD will need to avoid avocados, bacon, many salad dressings, chicken thighs, and steak. Fast food is also very high in fat and must be avoided.

Once again, individuals must read labels on food carefully to see how much fat they contain. Fat is fine in moderation, but it can easily add up. Tracking intake is vital to avoid negative effects. Avoiding large meals helps too.

Spice is delicious. It also triggers GERD. Find out more now.

Spicy Foods

Spicy food is especially triggering for GERD sufferers because the spice irritates the stomach. In response to the spicy food, the stomach will produce extra acid. The stomach is trying to reduce the irritation. Because of the excess acid, some of it backs up into the esophagus, resulting in heartburn.

Those who find they have a problem with spicy food due to GERD will experience heartburn an hour after eating something spicy. Eating milder spices helps individuals avoid irritating their stomach. For example, mild salsa is better than hot or medium if they suffer from GERD. There are also mild hot sauces out there.

The refreshing nature of the next fruit triggers GERD in many individuals. Learn more now.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruit are the most common forms of acid. So citrus fruit, like other acidic foods, increases the amount of stomach acid produced. Also, citrus fruits contain a lot of fiber so they stay in the stomach longer. The combination of excessive acid and the food spending longer in the stomach raises the risk of stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus.

Of course, not all citrus fruits will trigger heartburn episodes in GERD. Some individuals find they can tolerate mandarins but not lemons or grapefruit. This is because there is a range of acidity in citrus fruit. However, since citrus fruits are highly acidic, they will trigger heartburn in GERD very fast.

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Tomatoes

Tomatoes are healthy and a great type of fruit to include in many culinary dishes, including sauces and many salads. However, tomatoes are acidic. Because of this, they are a big trigger food for individuals with GERD. Like the other foods mentioned so far, tomatoes cause the production of more acid to reduce irritation to the stomach lining. This greatly increases the risk that stomach acid will flow back up into the esophagus and trigger symptoms of GERD. Tomatoes often trigger GERD quickly too. That said, the preparation method does influence the acidity of tomatoes. Some individuals find cooked tomatoes don't irritate their stomach, but fresh tomatoes still trigger heartburn.