Foods that can cause indigestion and heartburn.

Curbing symptoms of indigestion or heartburn can be as simple as identifying triggering foods and reducing them or eliminating them from the diet.

High-Fat Meals take longer time to digest which can lead to prolonged to gastric emptying. This can increase pressure within the stomach and contribute to the relaxation of the esophagus, allowing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Fatty foods also may delay stomach emptying and digestion, exacerbating symptoms of indigestion.

Spicy Foods contain compounds like capsaicin that can stimulate the production of stomach acid. The excess stomach acid can irritate the lining of the stomach and esophagus, leading to symptoms of indigestion and heartburn. Spices can also potentially weaken the esophagus, allowing stomach acid to reflex into the esophagus.

Caffeine can stimulate the production of stomach acid which can contribute to the irritation of the esophagus and lead to heartburn. It can also relax the esophagus and allow stomach acid to flow upward into the esophagus easily.

Carbonated beverages can introduce gas into the stomach. This gas can increase pressure in the stomach and cause the LES to open, allowing stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus. The acidity of some carbonated drinks can irritate the stomach lining.

Citrus foods can increase acidity of the stomach which can irritate the stomach lining and cause heartburn. Citrus may also relax the esophagus, facilitating the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus.