Allium vegetables, such as garlic can worsen acid reflux symptoms. The active ingredient in garlic known as allicin increases acidity in the stomach, which could lead to this.
7. Onions
Onions are another vegetable Dr Ruban recommends avoiding for people, particularly raw onions. It’s not clear why onions trigger acid reflux symptoms, but in a study from the 1990s people with heartburn ate a plain hamburger one day, followed by the same burger with onions on the following day and the second burger significantly worsened their heartburn, so try to avoid the popular root vegetable if you can.
8. Oranges
We all know just how good oranges are for keeping us healthy, providing vitamin C – which can improve the immune system and stop us from getting sick. But they might not be the best choice for one of your five a day if you deal with heartburn. ‘Citrus fruits are always a slight risk factor for people with heartburn,’ Dr Ruban says.
9. Tomatoes
Just like garlic and onions, tomatoes are another food that could trigger acid reflux symptoms, according to Dr Ruban. Tomatoes are naturally acidic foods, which means they can relax the oesophagal sphincter (the muscle separating the stomach from the oesophagus), increasing the flow of acid between the two.
10. Curry
When you’re dealing with acid reflux, it’s best to avoid foods that will upset your digestive system and spicy food like curry is a prime example of this. ‘Spicy food can irritate the lining of the oesophagus further, causing worsening symptoms,’ Medlin says.
11. Cheese
Fatty foods like cheese are another food that might trigger acid reflux. ‘Higher fat foods can cause a film of oil to form at the top of the stomach and increase the stomach acid production making reflux more likely,’ Medlin explains. Cheese is an example of a food that’s generally high in saturated fat, and could create this response in the body.
12. Biscuits
We know you don’t want to hear this, but your midday chocolate biscuit could actually be triggering your acid reflux symptoms. Another example of a high-fat food, Medlin says that processed biscuits are something she tells her clients who deal with heartburn to avoid.
13. Pork
‘Processed meats like pork and bacon can trigger acid reflux because of their high-fat content,’ Dr Ruban says.
14. Alcohol
This isn’t strictly a food, but both Medlin and Dr Ruban stress that alcohol is one of the biggest triggers of acid reflux, so it’s probably not the best idea to have a drink with your meal if you’re worried about heartburn. ‘White wine in particular can cause increased stomach acid and make stomach ulcers and gastritis more likely,’ Medlin says.
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