Read on to learn more about foods that cause heartburn and how you can treat heartburn.
Heartburn occurs when stomach acid seeps out of the stomach and moves up into the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. This backflow of acid can cause a burning sensation in the chest, also called heartburn.
Any food that increases acid production in the stomach can cause heartburn. Foods that relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that
Avoiding the most common food triggers may help you avoid heartburn. However, if heartburn becomes chronic, it may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
If you get heartburn from drinking coffee or tea, caffeine may be the cause. These drinks can also be highly acidic and stimulate your stomach to produce digestive acids, which can make heartburn worse.
Some people may be able to consume up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day without any harmful side effects. While the amount of caffeine in food and drinks can vary wildly, an 8-ounce cup of coffee generally contains around 95–200 mg of caffeine.
Soft drinks, energy drinks, snack foods, and ice cream can also contain caffeine. Reducing your caffeine intake may help prevent heartburn.
Alcohol increases acid production in your stomach and
In fact, researchers have found that drinking large amounts of alcohol
Chocolate
Avoiding chocolate, or eating it in moderation, may help relieve heartburn.
Citrus fruits, which get their name from their citric acid content, can cause heartburn. A
Fruits that have high citric acid content include:
- lemons
- limes
- oranges
- grapefruits
High-fat foods can
Many foods — like gum, mints, and tea — have peppermint added to them as a flavoring. This herb may be able to soothe an upset stomach because of its relaxing effects on stomach muscles and additional calming and numbing effects.
However, the
Foods like pizza, chili, or spaghetti sauce that contain tomatoes can cause heartburn. This may be due to the high acid content of tomatoes. Avoiding foods or drinks containing tomatoes may help relieve your symptoms.
Spicy foods can also cause heartburn. Common examples are foods made with paprika, vinegar, jalapeño pepper, and chili. A
Keeping a log of how you feel after eating different spicy foods may help narrow down what foods or ingredients cause problems for you.
If avoiding trigger foods does not relieve heartburn effectively, you may need additional treatments to control your symptoms.
According to the
Antacids
Antacids help neutralize the stomach acid that causes heartburn. Common antacids include Mylanta, Rolaids, or Tums.
Histamine-2 (H2) blockers
H2 blockers reduce stomach acid production. Common H2 blockers include Tagamet HB, Pepcid, or Axid AR.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
PPIs also reduce stomach acid production but may take a few days to work. Common PPIs include Prevacid, Nexium, and Prilosec OTC.
Additional treatments
If OTC medications are insufficient or your heartburn becomes chronic, your doctor may need to prescribe stronger prescription versions of the medications listed above.
Learn more about treatment options for acid reflux and GERD.
While many foods can trigger heartburn, other foods do not have links to heartburn and other GERD symptoms. Another
- fruits
- vegetables
- fiber
Additionally, the review found that vegetarian diets in general did not link to GERD symptoms. It also noted that although fruits generally did not contribute to GERD, citrus intake between meals could trigger symptoms.
Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Certain foods can cause heartburn by increasing stomach acid production or relaxing the LES, allowing acid backflow.
Avoiding trigger foods may be all that is necessary to relieve heartburn. However, some people may also need OTC or prescription medications to control their symptoms.
Contact your doctor to discuss additional dietary or clinical options to control heartburn.