7 Common Food & Drinks That Cause Acidity And Why

Maintaining the pH level of your stomach is very important to avoid any discomfort or problem. Certain types of foods have high acid content that leads to acid reflux in the stomach. Acid reflux feels like a burn in the stomach and you can also feel it in your oesophagus. It leads to a burning sensation and is extremely uncomfortable to bear. This may further cause a lot of unwanted problems in your body, and you will have to take medicines to cure them. You can simply avoid stomach-related problems by eating certain types of food carefully as they are highly acidic and may disturb the pH level of your body. Let's have a look at some common foods consumed regularly that lead to acidity.

Also Read: Acidic Foods: All You Should Know About

* Spicy Food

Excessive consumption of any kind of spicy food like hot peppers, garlic and chilli may irritate your oesophagus and can further cause acidity. One should avoid eating extra spicy food, especially during hot and humid weather because that is when the body is more prone to developing heatburns. This may not only lead to acid reflux but also can cause ulcers in your mouth. The right way of eating extra spicy food is to 1st eat it in moderation and second pair it with something bland and not too hot.

* Citrus Food

Citrusy fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and tomatoes are very acidic. Although these are high in vitamin C, excessive consumption of any of these things may lead to a disturbance in the pH level of your stomach. This is why it is very important to consume citrus fruits in moderation if you want to avoid triggering an acid reflux. You can make these things a part of your food rather than eating something entirely dependent on any of these things.

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* Fried Food

Fried food is not just bad for your heart but it also leads to acidity. Eating food that has excess oil will always lead to acid reflux in your stomach. Any kind of fried food is very hard for the stomach to digest so it takes a very long time to empty the stomach. If food stays in the stomach for a long time, then the likelihood of acid creation becomes high. Instead of eating fried food, you can either bake your food or air fry it to get the same crispiness. Also, occasional consumption of this food will not create a lot of problems but you must avoid eating extremely fried food regularly. 

* Chocolate 

Chocolate consists of caffeine and theobromine both of which massively contribute towards acid reflux and acidity. Both of these lead to the relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter which allows the acid to flow back into the oesophagus. The high-fat content in chocolate can also increases stomach pain which can eventually lead to heartburn in the stomach. Eating chocolate in moderate quantities is not bad for health. Overconsumption of chocolate may cause a lot of unwanted problems.

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* Coffee

Coffee, tea, or any other drink that has a high caffeine quantity will raise the acid levels in your stomach. It will also lead to the secretion of other gastric juices that are not good for our stomach. It is always suggested that to increase acidic secretion in your stomach, the consumption of caffeine in your diet should be minimised. It also affects the lower oesophageal sphincter. Eliminating caffeine from your diet will have an overall beneficial result on your body.

* Carbonated Drinks

Any carbonated drink like soda and sparkling water will also increase the acids in your body. It also leads to the backflow of acid in the oesophagus which eventually causes discomfort. One should avoid drinking carbonated drinks as much as possible. These drinks are also high in sugar and lead to the secretion of unwanted juices in the stomach as it takes a very long time for the body to digest these drinks. 

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* Red Wine

Red wine is classified as an acidic drink and just like any other acidic drink, excessive consumption may lead to acid reflux. Red wine is generally made from fermented grapes that are highly acidic. Other than being acidic itself. It also increases the chances of acid production in the body. This puts your body at a worse risk of facing acid reflux. It is always important to drink red wine in very little quantity.

These are some common foods that we consume regularly that contribute towards acid reflux in the body. Maintaining a proper pH level in your stomach is important to facilitate digestion and absorption of food. Make sure that you avoid anything that disrupts the overall balance of your body.