Acid reflux is a condition that should not be ignored or self-treated. Upon diagnosis, one of the first things that people ask is what they should eat.
A change in diet is one of the most crucially important factors in helping treat and prevent acid reflux from ever happening again.
Acid reflux foods to avoid – Which alkaline foods should you not eat?
Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter is unable to hold stomach contents together. As a result, belching of gastric contents occurs. This may be due to a weakened sphincter or an irritation. There are certain foods that can trigger acid reflux. Knowing which types of foods to avoid can minimize its occurrence.
- Fried or fatty foods such as French fries, fried chicken, onion rings, etc.
- All types of coffee, even decaffeinated ones as theses increase the acid content in the stomach
- Caffeinated tea and cola drinks also increase acid content
- Although there are studies that say alcoholic drinks protect the mucosal layer, it is best to reduce intake or completely avoid them for precaution
- Chocolate
- Peppermint and spearmint
- Garlic and Onions
- Citrus fruits and juices
- Tomato products
- Carbonated beverages
- Salad dressings or marinades containing vinegar
Oftentimes, people who suffer from frequent acid reflux can identify what are the foods that can trigger this symptom. If you find yourself having acid reflux symptoms after having eaten a certain type of food, try your best to avoid it.
Better alkaline food diet choices and habits
If there are bad guys, there are also good guys. The foods and habits listed below are generally good for everyone who is suffering from frequent acid reflux:
- To make heartburn less likely, choose drinks that aren’t fizzy or don’t contain caffeine. These drinks include herbal teas, milk, and plain water.
- Try chewing a gum after every meal to stimulate saliva production. Saliva helps neutralize acid and makes the stomach deposit its contents into the intestines much faster, thereby reducing incidence of acid reflux.
- Fruits such as apple and bananas
- Vegetables such as potato, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, green beans, peas
- Extra-lean ground beef, skinless chicken breast, steak, egg whites, egg substitute, fish
- Dairy products like feta and goat cheese, fat-free sour cream, low-fat soy cheese
- Multi-grain or white bread, cereal, bran, oatmeal, corn bread, graham crackers, pretzels, rice cakes
- Mineral water
- Ginger is thought to have anti-inflammatory and therapeutic effects on the stomach
- Aloe vera is a natural healing agent that can be used to prevent acid reflux
- Melons, honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon
- Fennel, parsley, and celery
- Couscous and rice
- Herbal therapy makes use of important herbs to be taken as teas such as andrographis, artichoke, barberry, bitter orange, blessed thistle, centaury, dandelion, golden seal, and many others.
- After eating, try not to lie down immediately. Wait for 30 minutes – 1 hour before doing so. This will help prevent acid reflux.
- As much as possible, try not to eat anything at least 4 hours prior sleeping. A full stomach can trigger reflux of acid contents.
- Eat small but frequent meals spread out the whole day instead of consuming one huge meal.
Aside from eating the right foods, the key to a successful diet program is a combination of other factors. What you eat, how much of it you eat, and when you eat it can be helpful or hurtful for your particular acid reflux.
Starting a new diet program is never easy. However, making that change can help improve your health and quality of living. So do yourself a favor and start eating for an acid-free life.
From the age of about 19 I started suffering with heartburn, acid reflux, GERD – call it whatever you want ... It was bloody hell. I’m 41 now ... and have been free from it for 4 ½ years ... in those 4 ½ years I haven’t had it once ... yep not even once … and like thousands of others I’ve shown … I gonna tell you how to get rid of it for good (full stop). 
