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Foods That Can Relieve Heartburn

by — Last updated: 2017-10-31 in Gastrointestinal Disorders

Table of Contents

Heartburn can be miserable to live with, and the relief obtained from antacids can be short-lived. Learn which foods can soothe heartburn and which ones are likely to make symptoms worse.
People who experience heartburn frequently must pay attention to foods that both provoke and relieve their symptoms. If you suffer from heartburn, it may be useful to keep a food diary to identify foods that are safe to eat and foods that cause or aggravate heartburn.

Some of the foods below may provide some relief of heartburn symptoms

(or are at least safe to eat for most people with heartburn):

  • Fruits: apples, bananas
  • Vegetables: carrots, green beans, cabbage, broccoli, peas, baked potato
  • Meat: skinless chicken breast, lean ground beef, non-oily fish, broiled steaks, egg whites
  • Dairy products: goat or feta cheese, fat-free cream cheese, sour cream, milk
  • Grains: rice, bread, cereals (oatmeal or bran), graham crackers, corn bread, rice cakes
  • Beverages: water, milk (with discretion)

Some foods can be eaten by some with heartburn without causing symptoms, while other people will react negatively to them. The following list contains foods that should be eaten with discretion. If they cause heartburn, they should be eliminated from the diet as much as possible:

  • Fruits: orange juice (low acid), berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries), grapes, peaches, apple cider, dried cranberries
  • Vegetables: scallions, sauerkraut, garlic, onions, leeks
  • Meat: scrambled eggs in butter, lean ground beef, fried fish, fried eggs, tuna salad, chicken salad, ham, hot dogs
  • Dairy products: yogurt, cottage cheese (low fat), milk, mozzarella cheese, cheddar chees
  • Grains: granola cereal, garlic bread, muffins
  • Beverages: beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, root bear, cola

Foods that should be avoided if you experience frequent heartburn

  • Fruits: acidic fruits and their juices (orange, lemon, tomato, lime, grapefruit, cranberry)
  • Vegetables: raw onions, French fries
  • Meat: Buffalo wings, chicken nuggets (processed chicken), marbled steak, ground beef that is high in fat content
  • Dairy: ice cream, sour cream, milk shakes, regular cottage cheese
  • Grains: spaghetti with tomato sauce, macaroni and cheese
  • Beverages: coffee, tea (caffeinated and decaffeinated), hard liquor
  • Desserts: chocolate, high-fat desserts, chips, doughnuts
Heartburn is an unpleasant symptom that can lead to complications if not treated. Heartburn that occurs frequently should always be evaluated. Avoiding foods that cause heartburn may relieve heartburn; however, many people with GERD require medications to treat their heartburn symptoms.