Acid Reflux Diet

Acid reflux disease is essentially a regurgitation of the acidic liquids present in the stomach into the esophagus. The symptoms are usually heartburn or a burning sensation from the stomach to the lower chest. You may also exhibit trouble in swallowing or dysphagia. One’s diet plays an extremely important part in treating an acid reflux, since it is predominantly an abnormality in the stomach.

Foods that are acidic in nature are a strict no-no for people suffering from acidic reflux disease, because these are the root cause of the said condition. These would include fatty or fried foods, whole milk, chocolate peppermint etc. So is the case with creamed foods or soups, oils and in fact a majority of fast foods. Citrus fruits and juices too should be shunned, as they further aggravate the already inflamed lower esophagus. Other foods that cause an equal damage are grapefruit, tomatoes and pineapples. Coffee, caffeinated soft drinks, aerated drinks and tea should be restricted if not strictly avoided. On a general basis, go for foods that are easily digestible thus taking the strain off your digestive system. Needless to say, alcohol should be strictly abstained from. Irregular eating habits are a common cause of acid reflux. So it goes without saying that eating your meals at a regulated frequency is a prerequisite in healing acid reflux. For best results, eat smaller meals more frequently instead of the usual three full meals. Smaller quantities of food at more frequent intervals exerts less pressure on your stomach and demands less acid secretion to facilitate their digestion. Foods with complex carbohydrates like rice and wheat absorb acid much more easily. Include more of these in your diet to effectively soak up the acid that causes the reflux in the first place.

Additionally, make sure you eat comparatively less food for dinner and avoid eating directly before going to bed. Your dinner should be timed at least two hours prior to bed time so as to give your system enough and more time for digestion. Pacing up and down slowly for half an hour after your dinner will also help the stomach digest the food quickly. Some people also advise the inclusion of milk in your diet to efficiently heal acid reflux. Though it might bring short relief, milk is widely believed to actually aggravate the situation. Milk has a ricochet action which ultimately results in discharge of more stomach acid, usually while you are asleep.