Heartburn is typically experienced as a fiery pain centered in the area directly behind the breastbone. Both the location of the discomfort and its name typically lead people to assume that heartburn is a cardiovascular disorder. But it’s actually a digestive issue where stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus. It’s typically triggered when people eat food that they have trouble digesting. The following foods are among the most common causes of heartburn:

1. Spicy foods

Who doesn’t love a little spice in their meal? Sadly, many people find that their tongue loves spicy food but their stomach strongly disagrees. Hot spices provide their distinctive kick by irritating tissue. We often find that it provides a nice flavor. But once spices reach the stomach they can cause massive irritation. This can trigger heartburn in people prone to the condition.

2. Alcohol

Many people find a nice alcoholic beverage to be the perfect way to relax. However, those beverages can also relax the lower esophageal sphincter. In doing so it essentially opens up one of the main paths by which stomach acid can travel right back up the esophagus. And in the process, it will trigger heartburn.

3. Processed snack foods

Snack foods like chips and cheezies probably seem like they’re in a whole other league when compared to hot spices or alcoholic beverages. But it’s easy to forget that most snacks or junk food are heavy in unhealthy oils and fat. Plus we tend to eat snack food at a rapid pace and in excess of the recommended serving size. All of this can create conditions our stomachs just aren’t prepared for. And the end result will often be a case of heartburn.

4. Garlic and onions

Onions and garlic offer a taste that perfectly complements many different dishes. Unfortunately, both tend to trigger heartburn when eaten in high quantities. Garlic is usually kept to a small enough size when flavoring meals that it won’t pose much danger. And the amount of garlic on, for example, a hamburger usually won’t be enough to trigger heartburn. But people subject to heartburn should avoid dishes that feature a large number of onions.

5. Chocolate

Sadly, the world’s favorite treat is a big risk for people who suffer from heartburn. The main culprits are the treat’s high levels of fat and xanthines. The latter are a class of chemical which contains caffeine and the theobromine typically associated with tea. Xanthines can stimulate the central nervous system which is an unpredictable risk factor with heartburn. The fats contribute by slowing the rate at which the stomach can digest the treat. Slower digestion is yet another big risk factor for heartburn.

6. Citrus fruits

Even people who don’t normally suffer from heartburn can have trouble eating acidic fruits on an empty stomach. And someone who is at risk of heartburn will often have trouble eating citrus no matter what else is in the meal. The main problem comes from the fruit’s acidity. It’s true that our stomach is a highly acidic environment. But adding acid to acid can make the environment rough enough to feed back up into the esophagus.

7. Greasy fast foods

Fast food typically has the same issue as snack food. We usually eat far more than a single serving of fast food when we decide to indulge ourselves with it. And most fast food is absolutely loaded with grease and oils. All of this typically creates a mixture that our stomachs really struggle to digest. As we’ve seen, the longer a meal takes to digest the greater the opportunity for heartburn.