Certain foods can aggravate your heartburn symptoms, and it's best to limit or avoid completely those foods and drinks that result in acid reflux. There are some foods that should be avoided entirely, as they are usually responsible for a higher occurrence of heartburn.
The foods listed in the Table below are the most common foods that can produce heartburn.
For a listing of foods that usually cause little or no heartburn problem, please check out the table for foods that have Little Potential to Cause Heartburn. For a listing of foods that you may be able to enjoy occasionally, please check out the table for foods that can be Consumed With Discretion.
This is by no means a complete list, and in your personal situation, you may either find you can eat the foods from the "Avoid" group with no problem or have problems with foods not listed. It is a good idea to keep a Food Diary. For approximately two weeks, write down what you eat, when you eat and any symptoms you may experience. This will help you and your doctor plan your diet and decide on any change in eating habits you may need.
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Foods To Avoid On The Acid Reflux Diet
| Food Group | Foods To Avoid |
| Fruit | • Orange juice • Lemon • Lemonade • Grapefruit juice • Cranberry juice • Tomato |
| Vegetables | • Mashed potatoes • French fries • Onion, raw |
| Meat | • Ground beef, chuck • Marbled sirloin • Chicken nuggets • Buffalo wings |
| Dairy | • Sour cream • Milk shake • Ice cream • Cottage cheese, regular |
| Grains | • Macaroni and cheese • Spaghetti with sauce |
| Beverages | • Liquor • Wine • Coffee, decaffeinated or regular • Tea, decaffeinated or regular |
| Fats / Oils | • Salad dressing, creamy • Salad dressing, oil & vinegar |
| Sweets / Desserts | • Butter cookie, high-fat • Brownie • Chocolate • Doughnut • Corn chips • Potato chips, regular |
