Top 9 Heartburn Trigger Foods to Avoid Everyday Health Menu NewslettersSearch GERD Top 9 Heartburn Trigger Foods to Avoid Making the right food choices can help you avoid heartburn symptoms. Stay away from these common heartburn-inducing culprits. By Beth W. OrensteinMedically Reviewed by Farrokh Sohrabi, MD Reviewed: December 13, 2012 Medically Reviewed Use These Food Clues to Find the Cause of Heartburn Symptoms If you're one of the 60 million Americans who get Acidic Foods Many people find that eating citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, and Garlic Although the aroma of foods loaded with garlic can make your mouth water, if you're Coffee Coffee is a common Alcohol "It's typical for alcohol to trigger Chocolate A small piece of chocolate on occasion may not ignite the flame of Spicy Foods Here's an entire category that can cause heartburn symptoms: spicy foods. Some of the biggest offenders are dishes loaded with hot peppers and hot sauces. This is because strong spices can irritate your stomach lining, Lamm explains. But that doesn't necessarily mean that all dishes marked "hot" or "spicy" are off limits. You might be able to tolerate spices in small amounts without causing heartburn. Try dialing down the heat or Onions Like garlic and spices, onions trigger heartburn symptoms in many people, and raw onions — a Fried Foods Fatty foods sit in your stomach longer, and the longer the food sits, the greater the chance that digestive juices will back up into your esophagus and Peppermint Peppermint is generally thought to settle a queasy stomach, but it's also one of the most surprising heartburn triggers. One possible explanation is that the menthol in the peppermint relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, the circular band of muscle around the bottom part of the esophagus that separates it from the stomach. When this band relaxes, stomach acid can more easily flow back up, causing Most Recent in GERD Study Shows Depression Affects IBD Patients and Their Siblings Gut Check Can Cookie Dough Really Harm Your Gut 5 Natural Ways to Manage Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms Early Research Reveals Key Player in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Digestive Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in GERD Treatment Options for GERD Although most cases of GERD can be effectively managed with lifestyle modifications and medications, sometimes surgery may be necessary.By Mark HenricksDecember 3, 2021 What’s the Difference Between Acid Reflux and GERD? A burning pain in your chest generally signals heartburn, right? But if you are thinking that heartburn, also known as acid reflux, is the same as gastroesophag...By Denise SchipaniDecember 1, 2021 What Is GERD? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and PreventionBy Ashley WelchAugust 27, 2021 Managing GERD in an Era of UncertaintyBy Everyday Health Guest ContributorNovember 22, 2019 Still Searching for Relief From GERDBy Sean Delshad, MD, MBAMay 24, 2019 Heartburn Causes, Symptoms, and DiagnosisBy Diana RodriguezSeptember 17, 2018 How Changes in Body Weight Affect GERD A growing body of research shows that your weight can have a significant impact on acid reflux and related symptoms.By Allison RyanJune 22, 2018 GERD Symptoms and DiagnosisBy Mark HenricksJune 19, 2018 How to Choose the Right GERD Diet Consuming smaller meals, eating slowly, and avoiding certain foods may help relieve symptoms of GERD.By Mark HenricksJune 14, 2018 New Diet to Cut Acid RefluxBy November 16, 2017 Wellness inspired Wellness enabled FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYoutubeTikTok About Us Careers Editorial Policy Newsletters Meet Our Health Expert Network Privacy Policy Health News Accessibility Statement Terms of Use Contact Us Feedback Do Not Sell My Personal Information Popular Topics AdChoices NEWSLETTERS Get the best in health and wellness SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. A PROPERTY OF EHGLogo More From Everyday Health: Castle Connolly Top Doctors DailyOM Diabetes Daily Everyday Health Care Migraine Again 1996-2022 Everyday Health, Inc. Everyday Health is among the federally registered trademarks of Everyday Health, Inc. and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Badges Badges Badges