Foods that Cause Heartburn and Other Heartburn Triggers

When it comes to heartburn, the less you trigger it, the less you burn. The tricky thing is, everyone’s triggers may be different. Read through the usual causes of heartburn below, and make a note of which things you know — or suspect — may be your triggers. You may even want to keep a heartburn diary for a while. The goal isn’t to totally eliminate triggers, but to get better at making choices.

Whole Tomato and Sliced Tomato

Food

Food certainly is a biggie when it comes to triggers of heartburn. Here are the most common foods that cause heartburn. Should we say sorry now?

  • Chocolate
  • Garlic
  • Raw onions
  • Mints
  • Vinegar
  • Fried and fatty foods
  • Citrus fruits or juices
  • Spicy foods
  • Ketchup and mustard
  • Tomatoes and tomato sauces
Caffeinated Drinks

Caffeine

Sad but true, caffeine is a very common trigger of heartburn. What you may not realize is that caffeine is found in more than just coffee. Read on.

  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Energy drinks
  • Chocolate
  • Chocolate ice cream
  • Coffee ice cream
  • Sodas and colas
Various Alcoholic Drinks

Alcohol

Alcohol’s a heartburn trigger alright. Interestingly, red wine has been shown to be a worse trigger than white.

Women Sleeping on Pillow

Sleep

Sleep?! Well, it’s not sleeping itself that causes heartburn, it’s the fact that most of us like to do it lying down. And when you lie down, your horizontal position can make it easier for acid to creep up out of your stomach into your esophagus (thanks a lot, gravity).

Eating too close to bedtime can also trigger heartburn, if your body’s still digesting a lot of food when you lie down.

Hand Squeezing Stress Ball

Stress

Unless you’re living in a bubble, you probably experience some stress in your life. While it’s not a direct trigger of heartburn, stress can cause heartburn to feel worse. It can also make you reach for things like cigarettes, alcohol, or greasy comfort food.

Open Pack of Cigarettes

Smoking

Big surprise, smoking is not good for your heartburn, either. It relaxes the esophageal sphincter that normally keeps acid from coming up out of your stomach.

Women Stepping on Scale

Weight

Heartburn flare-ups can increase when you’re overweight. Also, if clothing is too tight around your waist, this can constrict your stomach and trigger heartburn too.

Yoga for Heartburn?

Explore yoga and other ideas for supporting your wellness and reducing heartburn.

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