Heartburn and acid reflux can be very painful and uncomfortable and can come on suddenly after a meal or during sleep. Certain foods are known triggers for heartburn and acid reflux. Though different foods may affect people differently. This means keeping track of the foods that trigger heartburn and acid reflux will help you to reduce bloating, burping, and nausea. Here’s a rundown of the known foods that trigger heartburn and acid reflux:

1. Citrus fruits
You might love oranges and think there could be nothing wrong with eating them because of all of the vitamins they contain, but they can be harmful if you have acid reflux or are prone to heartburn. Citrus fruits are very acidic and often cause acid reflux or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

2. Fatty cuts of meat
Another food you might be surprised to hear could be causing you heartburn pain and indigestion is fatty meat. In fact, high-fat cuts of meat—such as lamb, beef, and pork—remain in the stomach for longer and thus, increase the chance of acid reflux and heartburn. Try lean cuts of meat, like turkey and chicken instead.

3. Dairy
Many dairy products are high in saturated fat, and these fats can make your symptoms worse. Keep dairy out of your diet for a while to see if it makes you feel better.

4. Greasy foods
Any kind of greasy food can cause you a lot of trouble with digestion. In particular, deep-fried and other trans-fatty foods like French fries, burgers, pizza, and baked goods. The higher the saturated fat content, the worse the foods will make you feel if you already suffer from heartburn.

5. Caffeine
Caffeine in any form can cause you to suffer heartburn and acid reflux, especially caffeine from coffee. The acidity in the coffee and the caffeine content can lead to painful heartburn and acid reflux.

6. Spicy foods
Spicy foods are one of the common foods that trigger acid reflux and heartburn. Especially if you love spicy foods that contain high amounts of hot peppers, like wings, curries, tacos, etc., particularly before bedtime, keep in mind that laying down will make the symptoms even worse.

7. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are high in acidity just like citrus fruit, and you will want to cut them out of your diet. Some of the common tomato products you might consume without thinking about it are tomato sauces and tomatoes in soup and sandwiches.

8. Garlic and onions
Two more foods to avoid are garlic and onions because they are known for making heartburn and acid reflux symptoms worse. Both onions and garlic contain acids that irritate and inflame the lining of the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest and throat for acid reflux sufferers.