Heartburn is a common problem that afflicts many adults at some point during their lives. Nevertheless, heartburn can be easily side stepped by avoiding certain foods that can trigger the symptoms of heartburn. Commonly these symptoms include a stinging and burning sensation that originates in the chest and spreads upwards towards the throat and neck. Avoid this burning in our chest by abstaining or limiting your consumption of these ten foods that cause heartburn.

1. Citrus Fruits

Lemons and limes may be delicious and nutritious but they are also chock full of citric acid. Consuming lemons and limes may cause heartburn because this citric acid raises the pH count of the stomach, an environment already full of naturally produced gastric acid. An increase in acidity means that the chest and throat begin to feel the impact of stomach acid that usually is diluted enough to not register an impact.

2. Tomatoes

Another nutritious food source that causes heartburn by raising the pH level of the stomach, much like lemon and limes. However, tomatoes also influence the manifestation of heartburn by reducing the mouth’s and throat’s saliva content through its bitterness and sourness, leading to acid reflux as salvia is a natural heartburn fighter.

3. Garlic and Onion

This tasty combination causes heartburn but for unknown reasons. While elevate acid levels may be suspect, researchers only have identified onions and garlic as heartburn promoters because so many people who have regular heartburn symptoms are sensitive to onions and garlic.

4. Spice

Certain spices used in ethnic foods like Mexican, Thai and Indian cuisine can trigger heartburn through their ability to increase the amount of stomach acid produced. Often these spices affect non native eater who do not have a natural tolerance for spices that would make other eater sweat. Nevertheless, cutting out spice isn’t necessary as consuming only large doses of chili powder, cumin or paprika typically triggers heartburn.

5. Peppermint

Usually seen as a substance that calms the stomach, peppermint actually promotes heartburn as it relaxes the muscles that separate the stomach from the esophagus, resulting in stomach acid being able to flow upwards far more easily.

6. High Fat Food

Foods that are rich in fat, like red meat, cheese, nuts and avocadoes often cause heartburn because they cause the stomach to empty at a much slower rate, creating pressure on the opening between esophagus and stomach, allowing gastric acid to seep out.

7. Alcohol

Again, this substance if consumed in heavy doses causes the separation muscles between stomach and esophagus to relax, resulting in an increased chance for heartburn.

8. Caffeine

Beverages rich in caffeine often cause heartburn as they accelerate the body, resulting in increased blood flow which causes the stomach to digest faster by producing more acid. Furthermore, beverages like coffee are high in natural acids that exacerbate heart burn symptoms.

9. Chocolate

Not only does this food have high doses of caffeine, chocolate also caused the separation between stomach and esophagus to contract and relax.

10. Carbonated Beverages

These bubbly drinks fill up the stomach and exert force on the separation between the stomach and esophagus, allowing gastric acid to bubble its way out and cause heartburn.

Keeping in mind these 10 foods that cause heartburn will help you reduce the chance that you get that burning feeling in your chest again.  If you memorize these 10 you will be fairly safe with most other foods you may choose to eat.

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