Foods That May Cause Heartburn
Spiced Foods: Foods that are spicy and include components like hot sauces or chili peppers might irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn.
Citrus Fruits: The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) can relax when exposed to acidic fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and their juices. This allows stomach acid to reflux back into the esophagus.
Tomatoes and Tomato-Based Products: Because tomatoes are naturally acidic, foods like salsa, ketchup, and tomato sauce can make heartburn symptoms worse.
Chocolate: Compounds in chocolate may relax the LES and increase the production of acid, which makes it a possible heartburn cause.
Coffee and other caffeinated beverages: Caffeine can cause some people to experience heartburn by relaxing the LES and increasing the production of stomach acid.
Carbonated Drinks: By stretching the stomach and putting more pressure on the LES, carbonated drinks like soda can aggravate heartburn.
Fried and Fatty dishes: Meals high in fat, such fried dishes and fatty meat cuts, can slow down the emptying of the stomach and loosen the LES, which can cause acid reflux and heartburn.
Compounds in onions and garlic have the ability to relax the LES and raise stomach acidity, which may result in heartburn.
Mint: While for some persons mint has a calming impact on the digestive tract, for others it might relax the LES and exacerbate symptoms of heartburn.
Alcohol: Alcohol is a popular heartburn trigger since it relaxes the LES and increases the production of stomach acid, especially when ingested in excess.
