What Foods Are Irritating to the Stomach?

In daily life, there are many foods that can irritate the stomach, mainly including leftover food, coffee, tomatoes, mint, and beverages. These foods can directly affect the gastric mucosa, leading to stomach pain or burning sensations. Therefore, it is recommended to consume less of these stomach-irritating foods to avoid gastric mucosa damage or internal heat. Especially, spicy, cold, and chilled foods should be consumed sparingly.

Leftover food reheated and consumed again can be particularly harmful to the stomach. It is generally recommended to avoid consuming food that has been reheated for more than four hours. Many office workers like to bring boxed lunches and reheat them in a microwave, which can lead to stomach problems.

For those who enjoy fried chicken but have sensitive stomachs, please note that high-fat foods, such as fried foods, can increase the risk of acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. High-fat foods are difficult to digest, and the body will automatically secrete more gastric acid. Similarly, overeating can also stimulate excessive gastric acid secretion.

These two types of beverages contain a lot of fructose. About 30% of adults cannot absorb fructose well, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort.

Coffee can irritate the stomach, causing it to secrete excessive gastric acid, leading to indigestion and acid reflux. Especially for those with gastric ulcers or heartburn symptoms, it is recommended to reduce coffee consumption. Beverages containing caffeine should also be consumed sparingly.

For people with sensitive stomachs, broccoli often causes gastric discomfort. Broccoli contains a large amount of soluble dietary fiber, which can only be decomposed in the large intestine and produce a lot of gas. Additionally, broccoli also contains gaseous carbohydrates similar to those found in beans.

Tomatoes have a high acidity level, which can stimulate the stomach to produce more gastric acid. Therefore, eating too many tomatoes can lead to symptoms such as acid reflux and heartburn. The same applies to tomato-based products like tomato sauce.

Mint can relax the esophageal sphincter, increasing the risk of acid reflux. It is advisable to be cautious with anything containing mint, such as mint tea, mint candies, and mint gum.

Excessive consumption of cold drinks can lower the temperature inside the stomach, affecting gastric acid secretion and the function of digestive enzymes. Therefore, it is best to drink hot beverages such as tea or warm lemon water with meals. Cold drinks should be consumed between meals. Additionally, green tea and acidic beverages should be consumed sparingly by individuals with sensitive stomachs as green tea is considered to have a cooling effect, which can lead to gastric discomfort when consumed excessively.