- Peppermint
- Tomato products
- Chocolate
- Fried and fatty foods
- Foods and drinks that contain caffeine
- Alcoholic beverages.
Coffee and alcohol actually stimulate your stomach to make more acid than usual. Alcohol, chocolate, and fatty foods are believed to cause the lower esophageal sphincter to weaken. Together, too much stomach acid and a weak lower esophageal sphincter can increase the symptoms of GERD.
Other foods that can make your symptoms worse include:
- Garlic
- Carbonated beverages, such as soda
- Mustard
- Onions
- Certain spices
- Vinegar
- Citrus fruits and juices.
(If you want to know more about what a person with GERD should avoid, click Diet for GERD to read the full eMedTV article on this topic.)
