Acid reflux is a condition wherein the stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest and throat. Some foods increase acid production and aggravate the symptoms of acid reflux in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and avoiding these trigger foods is one of the best dietary and lifestyle tips for people experiencing acid reflux. Alternatively, their consumption can be reduced.

Trigger foods are usually individual-centric, and foods that are good for one person may be harmful to others. To identify the trigger foods for a person, they can maintain a diary to record what they eat and any symptoms that they experience.

The lifestyle tips for acid reflux presented in this article have listed out trigger foods that worsen the symptoms of acid reflux. It is advised that people with acid reflux symptoms remove such foods from their diet to prevent complications and aggravating the condition. Here are some common foods that trigger acid reflux:

1. High-fat foods
Food that is high in fat commonly acts as a trigger for acid reflux. It is found that this food can cause the sphincter muscle in the esophagus to relax, allowing acid to flow back from the stomach. Fried and fatty food should ideally be left out of the diet, and must especially be avoided at dinner.

Some foods that are high in fat and should be avoided to prevent aggravation of the symptoms are French fries, bacon, ham, ice cream, pastries, creamy sauces, doughnuts, cookies, fried meat, and dairy products.

2. Chocolate
It is found that eating chocolate can trigger acid reflux in some people. This is because an ingredient called methylxanthine in chocolate can relax the esophageal sphincter, causing acid to flow back into the esophagus.

3. Spicy foods
Foods that are high in spice, including garlic and onion, can worsen the symptoms of acid reflux as they cause the digestive system to increase acid production. Not everyone may be affected by spicy foods, but those who experience severe symptoms should reduce the usage of spices.

4. Caffeine
Caffeine can worsen the symptoms of acid reflux by increasing acid production and causing it to flow back into the esophagus. A helpful lifestyle tip for people with acid reflux is to keep coffee and tea off the diet. Alternatively, light coffee with low-fat milk can be consumed.

5. Citrus and tomatoes
Citrus fruits like orange, lemon, and grapefruit are acidic and can worsen the symptoms of acid reflux. Tomatoes can also be a trigger food for some people experiencing acid reflux, along with tomato sauce and ketchup. However, not everyone who eats citrus fruits and tomatoes is affected.

6. Carbonated beverages
People consume carbonated beverages regularly, but they have been found to worsen the symptoms of acid reflux in some people. They can be a trigger food for acid reflux and should be avoided to prevent flare-ups.