Fatty Foods
Foods [5] that are high in saturated or unsaturated fats can trigger AR. The fats trigger the release of a hormone called cholecystokinin, which relaxes the lower esophageal muscles barring the stomach and the esophagus. When this muscle relaxes, it is easy for digestive contents to escape from the stomach into the esophagus and cause heartburn or chest pain.
Sadly, these types of foods don’t only include fried foods and takeout meals. It also includes delicious and healthy high-fat foods like avocados.
Fatty foods also take longer to digest compared to other classes of foods, and this creates enough time for the digestive juices to seep into the food pipe.
Although skimmed or low-fat milk can help reduce heartburns, the high-fat content in whole milk may only worsen your symptoms. In a recent study, up to thirty-eight percent of people suffering from GERD experienced symptoms after consuming whole milk.
References:
[1] https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/what-is-acid-reflux-disease
[2] https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/common-causes-acid-reflux-disease
[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20361959
[4] https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/triggers
[5] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-cause-heartburn#:~:text=High%2DFat%20Foods,fat%20foods%20can%20trigger%20heartburn.