Acid Reflux: What Foods Should I Avoid?
Avoid Foods High In Acidity
Foods high in acidity are the first to go. Citric fruits high in acidic content include lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruit. A person suffering from acid reflux wants to decrease acidity in the stomach. Tomatoes, coffee, teas, onions, sodas, and wine are foods that are especially acidic.
Avoid Foods That Weaken The LES
Other acid reflux foods can actually serve as muscle relaxers. These foods weaken the LES, making acid more susceptible to slipping through the valve and moving up into the esophagus. Alcohol is the most obvious sedative, but chocolate, peppermint, spear mint and garlic can also weaken the LES.
Avoid “Hot” Foods
Other foods simply irritate an already damaged esophagus lining. “Hot” foods like chilies should be avoided by people who have chronic acid reflux.
Avoid Foods That Are High In Fat
Foods that are high in fat are harder to break down, causing the stomach to create more acid. Therefore, they should be avoided as well.
There really are no “magic” acid reflux foods. Some people insist that milk alleviates acid reflux, but actually, milk high in fat can actually stimulate acid productivity in the stomach. Safe acid reflux foods are foods with little to no acidic content, foods that are low in fat, non-caffeinated foods, and foods that do not irritate a sore esophagus. These include lean meats, non-citrus fruits and vegetables, and non-acidic beverages.
Beverages are possibly the largest acid reflux trigger! Those who suffer from acid reflux should eliminate all beverages, drink just water, and then slowly introduce other beverages into their diet.
A person suffering from acid reflux should also keep a food diary to see which specific foods cause acid reflux. Those foods should be immediately eliminated from their diet. Exercise is also always a good ideas as it will tighten the abdominal muscles, and can also help alleviate acid reflux by strengthening the LES.
When all else fails, over-the-counter and prescription antacids can help relieve the symptoms of acid reflux. Remember that alleviation is not even close to a cure. Proper diet, exercise, and recognition of acid reflux foods to ingest and avoid is the only way to get rid of chronic acid reflux.
