When acid reflux occurs, you may feel a burning sensation in your chest, nausea, or discomfort in your throat. These symptoms are often associated with youd diet or eating patterns and the types of food you choose.

To reduce the risk of recurrence and help prevent common causes of acid reflux, it is important to pay attention to what you eat and drink every day.

Foods to Avoid If You Have Acid Reflux

There are several foods and beverages that people with acid reflux should limit or avoid because they can worsen the symptoms. These include the following.

High-Fat Foods

High-fat foods such as fried foods, French fries, crackers, fatty cuts of meat, butter, cheese, ice cream, and sweet breads can make acid reflux symptoms, including GERD symptoms, more severe. Large amounts of fat cause the lower oesophageal sphincter, the ring of muscle that acts as a valve between the oesophagus and stomach, to relax.

When this valve becomes weaker, stomach acid can move back up into the oesophagus more easily and cause heartburn or a burning feeling in the chest.

Spicy Foods

Spicy dishes are very popular in Indonesia, such as basreng, seblak, and many other chilli-heavy foods. Chillies, pepper, and hot spices contain capsaicin, a compound that can irritate the lining of the throat and oesophagus.

Many people notice that their chest discomfort and burning sensation worsen after eating spicy food. To reduce acid reflux symptoms, it is better to limit or avoid spicy dishes, especially when acid reflux disease is flaring up.

Acidic Fruits and Vegetables

Although fruits and vegetables are generally good for health, some acidic varieties can worsen acid reflux symptoms. Fruits such as oranges, lemons, mangoes, and tomatoes, along with products made from them, are naturally acidic and can increase the sensation of burning in the chest.

Beverages That Can Worsen Reflux

In addition to food, certain beverages can also cause acid reflux symptoms to flare. Drinks that should be limited or avoided if you have acid reflux include:

• Coffee and tea, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, because they can stimulate stomach acid production.

• Soft drinks and soda, energy drinks, beer, and sparkling water, which all contain carbon dioxide. This gas can make the stomach feel full and increase pressure in the stomach, encouraging acid to move upward.

• Alcoholic beverages, which can weaken the lower oesophageal sphincter and increase stomach acid production.

Chocolate and Foods With Mints

Chocolate contains methylxanthines, compounds that can relax the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES). When this valve does not close properly, stomach acid can rise higher easily into the oesophagus and cause a burning sensation in the chest. For this reason, if you have GERD or frequent acid reflux, it is better to reduce or avoid chocolate in both snacks and drinks.

Foods with mints can also make acid reflux symptoms worse. Mint relaxes smooth muscles, including the lower oesophageal sphincter. When this muscle relaxes too much, the risk of stomach acid rising into the oesophagus increases.

Supplements and Certain Medications

Some supplements (iron and potassium supplements), and medicines (aspirin, certain antibiotics and some blood pressure medications) can be part of the causes of GERD or can make existing symptoms worse. If you notice acid reflux symptoms after taking specific medicines, inform your doctor. They can consider alternative treatments that are safer for people with acid reflux disease.

By avoiding foods and drinks that cause acid reflux symptoms and by adopting a healthier lifestyle, you can help reduce the frequency and severity of GERD symptoms. If complaints persist or become more frequent, consult a doctor through the health consultation service on the Ai Care app, available on the App Store and Play Store.

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