A patient with gastroesophageal reflux disease would MOST benefit from education to reduce consumption of which types of foods?

• A. Coffee, dairy foods
• B. Coffee, fatty foods
• C. High-sugar foods, fatty foods
• D. High-sugar foods, dairy foods

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that certain foods trigger reflux by relaxing the valve at the bottom of the esophagus or by slowing stomach emptying, which increases the chance of reflux. Coffee contains caffeine, which can relax the lower esophageal sphincter and raise acid exposure. Fatty foods slow gastric emptying, keeping the stomach fuller longer and raising pressure that pushes contents back up. Together, avoiding both coffee and fatty foods tackles two strong and common reflux triggers, making it the most effective educational focus for reducing symptoms.

Dairy and high-sugar foods can affect individuals differently, but they are not as consistently linked to reflux as caffeine-containing beverages and fatty foods, so they’re not the best universal targets.