Acid Reflux is a condition that often has recurring symptoms if the patient continues the same lifestyle habits, especially eating habits that increase acid reflux symptoms. Therefore, these foods are the ones that acid reflux patients should avoid.
1. High-fat foods
Acid reflux patients should avoid high-fat foods such as fried foods, greasy foods, chocolate, fast food, foods high in saturated fat like coconut milk, milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, or animal fat. This is because fats from these foods combine with stomach acid, causing bloating, fullness, or burning sensation in the chest.
2. Foods that produce a lot of gas
These include carbonated drinks, tea, coffee, soda, energy drinks, very sour foods, very spicy foods, or beans, as these foods stimulate increased production of digestive juices.
3. Vinegar
Vinegar is a seasoning with high acidity. Therefore, acid reflux patients should not add vinegar to their food as it increases stomach acid even more.
4. Alcoholic beverages
Alcoholic drinks such as beer, liquor, wine, cocktails, or any mixed alcoholic beverages should be avoided by acid reflux patients because alcohol relaxes the esophageal sphincter muscle, making it easier for stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus.
5. Fruits with high acidity
Fruits that acid reflux patients should avoid or limit include those with high acidity such as oranges, grapes, lemons, tomatoes, pineapples, or very sour fruit juices. Tomato sauce should also be avoided.
6. Vegetables that produce a lot of gas
Examples include raw onions, garlic, chili, pepper, shallots, peppermint, or spearmint, as well as all raw vegetables. These vegetables increase gas and acid in the stomach, causing a burning sensation in the chest.
7. Fermented foods
Fermented foods such as fermented fish, pickled bamboo shoots, pickled mustard greens, pickled fruits, preserved fruits, kimchi, and some sushi with pickled vegetables all increase gas in the stomach, causing bloating and discomfort.
8. High-fat supplements
Some supplements should also be avoided, especially those containing cod liver oil, garlic extract, vitamin E, or vitamin C, as they may increase stomach acid.
9. Chewing gum
Chewing gum increases saliva secretion, which leads to swallowing more saliva and thus swallowing more air into the stomach. Therefore, acid reflux patients should avoid frequent gum chewing.
