Fruit gets an unfairly broad reputation as a reflux trigger, largely because of citrus. Most fruit is actually fine, and some varieties are genuinely reflux-friendly.
Generally well tolerated
- Bananas — low acid, mildly alkaline
- Melon (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon)
- Apples and pears, especially without the skin for extra sensitivity
- Berries in moderate amounts, for most people
Fruits more likely to cause trouble
Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, lemon, lime) and pineapple are the main offenders because of their high acidity. Tomatoes are technically a fruit and belong on this list too — tomato sauce is one of the most commonly reported reflux triggers.
How to still enjoy citrus in small doses
Some people tolerate a small amount of citrus eaten with a meal (rather than on an empty stomach or as juice) better than a large glass of juice alone. It's worth testing in small quantities rather than assuming it's off-limits entirely, since individual tolerance genuinely varies here more than with most other trigger categories.
Fruit is a valuable part of a reflux-friendly diet when you pick the lower-acid varieties — it doesn't need to be avoided as a category.
