Summer Acid Reflux Instigators

Posted: Jun 19 in Diet & Reflux by Staff

It’s almost summer in Macon and warm weather foods are beginning to appear everywhere. These delectable summer favorites are hard to resist, but if you suffer from acid reflux you may want to think twice before indulging in summer heartburn triggers.
Avoid the burn of these warm weather foods and drinks:

Chili dogs, French Fries and Funnel Cakes…

• If you’re not careful this summer you may be singing “take me home” instead of “take me out to the ballgame.” These summer sports fan favorites are instant triggers for uncomfortable acid reflux symptoms. Their smell may be hard to resist at the ballpark, but chili dogs are topped with a spicy tomato-based sauce while the dog itself has a high fat content—both of which can instigate reflux.
• The same goes for sizzling French fries—they make your mouth water but they’ll also make your insides burn. French fries are loaded with fat and fried in grease pits. This lethal combination is sure to start a fire in your stomach. It’s wise to opt for a healthier, less greasy side this summer.
• Funnel cakes are also fried in grease and contain tons of fat. High-fat foods such as these sit in your stomach for longer causing an increase in acid production. These types of foods also contribute to a relaxed lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the valve keeping acid in your stomach and out of your esophagus. This can result in extremely irritating reflux when combined with increased stomach acids.

Lemonade, Iced Coffee e and Root Beer Floats

• Your kids may be begging you to try some of their delicious lemonade (for a small fee of 25 cents of course) but your digestion system may plead you not to. Lemonade, long a summertime thirst quencher, is filled with acidic juices. The consequences of drinking acidic lemonade will far outweigh its thirst-quenching abilities. It’s wise to steer clear of any citrusy drinks such as orange and grapefruit juices as well.
• As many acid reflux sufferers already know, caffeinated coffee can really trigger irritating acid reflux symptoms. The same rules apply to iced coffee as well—the caffeine will relax the LES as well as any dairy products introduced for taste. Dairy products are known to cause problems for acid reflux for sufferers, especially if they’re high in fat.
• Just dreaming about a cold, creamy root beer float can make you head to nearest ice cream shop. However, you may want to snap out of your day dream and stay far away from any root beer floats. Not only are root beer floats carbonated, which can incite digestive complications—they also contain dairy, which contributes to acid reflux problems as well.

Though the above summer favorites are known to incite reflux issues, not everybody will encounter the same problems. Keep a log of the kinds of foods that typically cause your issues with reflux. That way, you can have a better idea of which foods to steer clear of this summer. As always, if your symptoms of reflux are causing extreme pain, contact your GERD specialist as it could be a sign of a more serious issue.