7 Foods That Cause Acid Reflux

Bad news for chocolate lovers: Chocolate seems to cause more reflux than any other food. It’s a triple whammy:

1. Chocolate contains caffeine and other stimulants such as theobromine, which cause reflux.
2. Chocolate is high in fat, and fat causes reflux.
3. Chocolate is also high in cocoa, and cocoa causes reflux.

Theoretically, dark chocolate isn’t as bad as high-fat milk chocolate, but let’s face it—all chocolate is bad for reflux.

RELATED: 12 Ways to Soothe Heartburn in Pregnancy

Soda and other carbonated beverages are some of the main causes of acid reflux. The bubbles of carbonation expand inside the stomach, and the increased pressure contributes to reflux. Sodas with caffeine and those that are acidic (almost all) are even worse.

Of the beverages that were tested, Coke, Tab, and Diet Pepsi were the most acidic. All carbonated beverages can be a problem, so the authors recommend abstaining completely to avoid acid reflux.

RELATED: 6 Great Pillows for People With Acid Reflux

Fried food is the single most recognized cause of reflux. It is also the food most often associated with heartburn, which is chest pain from esophageal reflux.

Deep-fried (or even not-so-deep-fried) foods are on the "bad list" because of their high fat content.

RELATED: 9 Things That Could Be Giving You Acid Reflux

Beer, liquor, and wine are believed to contribute to reflux. Many alcoholic beverages are not very acidic. However, alcohol is believed to relax the valve at the bottom of the esophagus (where it joins the stomach), leading to reflux.

Abstain if you can; otherwise, have only one cocktail or glass of wine a day, and completely avoid acidic mixers like orange juice or soda.

RELATED: 11 Surprising Symptoms of Acid Reflux

All high-fat foods cause reflux. There is no reason to believe that one high-fat butter or cheese is better than another in this regard. If you have reflux and a serious cheese habit, something has to give.

Use a small amount of these foods as flavoring, but not as main ingredients. Low fat is better than no fat.

RELATED: 8 Most Common Symptoms of Heartburn

Acid reflux is caused by high-fat cuts of meat—beef, pork, lamb—which stay longer in the stomach and increase the chance of acid reflux.

Try cutting back to a lean cut of meat and eat it only once a week.

RELATED: Have GERD? Stomach Acid May Not Be the Only Cause, Study Says

One cup of coffee or espresso a day is fine, but people who drink coffee all day long are courting reflux—if they don’t have it already.

Try switching to chamomile, which is the best herbal tea, or you can have one cup of green tea a day if it is lightly brewed.

RELATED: How Much Coffee Is Too Much? A New Study Has the Answer

To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter