Avoid foods trigger acid reflux, heartburn symptoms

Finding a proper acid reflux diet is very important. While it is true every person reacts to acid reflux or GERD in a different way, there are some certain foods will trigger severe heartburn .  Thus the first thing to do to prevent acid reflux is to reduce or even avoid those foods that cause acid reflux. In order to be safe when consuming any food, you need to know which foods are the worst for GERD and will aggravate acid reflux symptoms.

Here are some of the most common foods that exacerbate GERD and heartburn pain :

• Fruits & Juices :  Generally acid-based foods to be a problem such as tomato and tomato juice, lemons and lemonade, grapefruit, orange and cranberry juices.  
• Fried foods and spicy foods such as chili pepper can also trigger the reflux that may also lead to heartburn. Peppermint and spear mint (weaken the lower esophageal sphincter muscle).
• Tomato and tomato based products such as pickles, sauces and curries etc are acid reflux food to avoid.
• Vegetables are good for treatment of heartburn symptoms as they are generally alkaline forming . However, French fries, raw onions and  mashed potatoes should be avoided.
• Dairy Products : It is advisable to avoid sour cream, ice cream, milk shakes and regular cottage cheese due to having high content of fat.
• Grains : Macaroni and spaghetti sauce are equally harming .
• Food containing Vinegar, cookies containing chocolate etc are all the acid reflux food to avoid.
• Meat Products : chicken nuggets, ground beef , chuck and marbled sirloin.  
• Beverage– alcohol increases stomach acid and weakens the lower esophageal sphincter or LES muscles . We should be careful with liquor and wines, all known to cause problems for the GERD sufferers.
• caffeine-containing beverages, coffee , tea and carbonated drinks can trigger the occurrence of reflux thus these should be avoided.
• Salads : oil and vinegar salad dressing, Creamy salad dressing to be avoided.
• Sweets : doughnut corn chips, high-fat butter cookies, brownies and chocolates (relax the LES muscle).

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