Simple Food Swaps for 8 Heartburn Triggers

Updated December 7, 2018.

It’s painful, stressful, and can become something more serious. Heartburn is an incredibly common affliction, affecting about 22 million Americans on a daily basis.

Also known as acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn is a burning in the chest that occurs when stomach acid seeps into the esophagus after eating. Normally, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens just enough to allow food into the stomach and to let gas out. If the muscle weakens or doesn’t shut properly, the acid can flow back, causing the burning sensation so many sufferers know all too well. Increased pressure on the stomach can exacerbate the condition, which is why it’s especially common in anyone who’s obese, constipated, or pregnant.

Heartburn symptoms include burning or pain in the chest or throat, a sour or acidic taste in the back of the throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, or a cough. Though the occasional bout of heartburn isn’t a cause for concern, persistent, unrelenting symptoms can be a sign that medication is necessary.

For many people, relief is as easy as taking a look inside the refrigerator. Certain foods can trigger heartburn, and while it can be hard to say goodbye to a few beloved treats (chocolate can be one dietary cause), it’s possible to make simple swaps for other common culprits.

Here are some easy, satisfying food swaps to prevent heartburn:

What to Eat Instead: There are plenty of nutritious non-citrus fruits to substitute in place of oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and tangerines. Try snacking on berries, melons, apples, pears, bananas, and stone fruits instead. Watch out for orange juice too—a less acidic option is apple juice, or make your own veggie-based juice at home.

What to Eat Instead: Tomatoes are another acidic fruit that can cause heartburn—tomato sauce can be especially problematic. Try dressing pasta with pesto or olive oil mixed with parsley and oregano instead. And though it’s best to side-step the red sauce altogether, adding a little baking soda or grated carrots can help neutralize some of the acids.

What to Eat Instead: Red-hot salsa and five-alarm chili can be delicious, but spicy foods can be a big problem if you have acid reflux. Herbs like basil, cilantro, oregano, rosemary, ginger, and thyme are flavorful substitutes for spices like cayenne, curry, cinnamon, and nutmeg, which can aggravate symptoms.

What to Eat Instead: High-fat foods can slow the emptying of the stomach, making reflux more likely. Opt instead for baked, grilled, poached, or roasted versions of your favorite fried options.

What to Eat Instead: If you experience dairy-induced symptoms, the problems are due to the high fat content of whole-milk products. Switching to reduced-fat versions of milk, sour cream, and yogurt may help alleviate the issues. Try low-fat yogurt instead of milk or cream in dairy-heavy recipes.

What to Eat Instead: It may not be necessary to kiss these flavorful, aromatic foods goodbye completely. Dehydrated versions of both can be less irritating on the stomach, and less likely to trigger reflux. If even the dried versions are causing problems, try subbing in parsley, dill, or basil for flavor.

What to Drink Instead: Although many researchers believe caffeine makes coffee troublesome for heartburn sufferers, some studies indicate that tea doesn’t influence reflux the same way. Just be careful to avoid certain herbal teas—peppermint and spearmint are known heartburn triggers. Try experimenting with a cup of black tea or decaf coffee, which has also been shown to significantly lower GERD symptoms.

What to Drink Instead: Alcohol relaxes the LES, so it’s best to avoid it entirely. But if you can tolerate one drink without symptoms, be sure to avoid citrus-based or carbonated mixers, and opt for alcohol with the lowest-proof possible.

If your heartburn persists despite making these dietary changes, medications such as omeprazole (Prilosec, Omesec) may help. If you still experience discomfort, talk to your provider for further guidance.