Amelia Grant

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest that typically worsens after eating, when lying down, or at night. While occasional heartburn is extremely common and doesn’t need treatment, frequent burning pain in your chest could be a sign of gastroesophageal acid reflux disease (GERD). 

GERD is a serious condition that requires medical attention and timely treatment since untreated GERD can turn into stomach ulcers and even cancer. The most important treatment option for acid reflux disease is diet. Therefore it’s essential to choose foods carefully. Here is a list of foods that can make GERD and heartburn worse:

1. Salty foods 

Eating too much salt can exacerbate the symptoms of GERD, especially heartburn. According to a 2013 study, high salt, meat, oil, and calcium intake is linked to a higher risk of acid reflux disease.  

2. Pizza 

Pizza is one of the worst food choices for GERD sufferers as it contains numerous heartburn triggers. For example, tomato sauce is extremely acidic, while cheese is rich in fat, which slows down the digestive process and worsens heartburn. 

3. Cheeseburgers 

Burgers are extremely popular, especially among Americans. In addition to relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter, they’re also rich in saturated fats that lead to a slow down of digestion. The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders claims that long-term consumption of fried and fatty foods can slow down stomach emptying and lower LES pressure. This can raise your risk of developing acid reflux disease. 

4. Whole milk 

Those who suffer from heartburn should avoid drinking whole milk because high-fat dairy can slow down the digestive process and might be an additional problem for people with lactose intolerance. 

5. Avocados 

As mentioned above, high-fat foods can exacerbate the symptoms of GERD and avocado is not an exception. Unfortunately, this superfood can slow down stomach emptying and thus worsens heartburn. 

6. Caffeine 

Although caffeine is a natural way to boost energy, it can relax the lower esophageal sphincter that makes stomach contents leak back into the esophagus, resulting in heartburn. Products that are high in caffeine include coffee, tea, colas, and dark chocolate. 

7. Oranges and lemons 

Citrus fruits are high in citric acid. Though the stomach lining can handle acids, the esophagus can be sensitive to them. If a person has a relaxed opening of the esophagus, eating acidic foods can provoke both acid reflux and heartburn. 

8. Tomatoes 

Since tomatoes also contain acid, foods that contain a lot of tomatoes like pizza, salsa, or spaghetti can potentially contribute to heartburn. Sauces rich in tomatoes can also be difficult to digest, as they’re often paired with onions, which can also lead to heartburn.

9. Alcohol 

Alcohol, even if consumed in moderation, can provoke heartburn. First, alcohol consumption leads to the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. Second, alcohol can raise the amount of stomach acid. Low-alcohol drinks such as wine and beer can stimulate the gastric acid secretion and gastrin release and thus increase the risk of heartburn. 

10. Chocolate

Frequent chocolate consumption can make the lower esophageal sphincter relax, resulting in heartburn. Plus, chocolate is high in caffeine which is also known to be a heartburn trigger.  

11. Spicy foods 

If you’re prone to heartburn, it’s important to avoid spicy foods. If you do consume them, try to stay active for at least two hours after eating. This will help keep the food in the stomach and prevent it from going back up into the esophagus. 

12. Mint 

Peppermint can be a good option for people with an upset stomach, since it relaxes stomach muscles and has a calming and numbing effect. But it also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter meaning peppermint can worsen heartburn.