Controlling Heartburn With Lifestyle Changes

By Sharon Gillson, About.com Guide

Updated September 18, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

You should eat foods that rarely cause heartburn and avoid those foods that will often cause heartburn. You may find that you can't eat some foods that other heartburn sufferers can, and that you have no symptoms when eating some foods that are major heartburn triggers for others. The foods and beverages that are known heartburn triggers for the majority of sufferers, and those you should be aware of, are the following:

• Coffee, Tea (decaffeinated and regular)
• Caffeinated beverages
• Carbonated beverages
• Alcoholic beverages
• Spices
• Pepper
• Onions
• Tomatoes and tomato based products
• Citrus fruits (e.g. oranges and grapefruits)
• Fried foods
• Fatty foods
• Chocolate
• Peppermint

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