Acid Reflux And Diet: What You Need To Know

Before we get into acid reflux and diet, let's answer some basic questions you might have. First, acid reflux occurs when gastric acids from the stomach rise up into the esophagus. This causes a burning sensation in the chest (sometimes referred to as heartburn) which can be quite painful. Second, as you may have already discovered, it can be triggered by a variety of different foods, though they can differ from person to person. With that said, please note that certain foods do tend to trigger heartburn in the majority of those who suffer from the affliction.

Acid Reflux And Diet - The Milk Myth

Drinking milk has long been touted as a quick way to eliminate your heartburn symptoms. This simply isn't true. While milk can exhibit cooling properties going down, it's an acid. Therefore, as soon as it reaches the stomach it simply aggravates the problem. Do yourself a favor and avoid drinking milk as a way to soothe your symptoms.

Acid Reflux And Diet - The Spicy Food Myth

Eating citrus and spicy foods will not necessarily cause acid reflux, as long as you eat them in moderation. Just as with any other foods, if you overeat when you enjoy these foods, you can trigger a reaction. The important point to note here is that overeating of any kind can trigger episodes. Instead of three large meals a day, you should switch to six smaller meals. Not only will this help to minimize your occurrences, you'll drop some weight, too.

Acid Reflux And Diet - Avoid Acidic Foods

Okay, it's true. You need to stay away from tomatoes and tomato products. Some people will be delighted to have this as an excuse for not eating their tomatoes; for others, it'll be a huge sacrifice. Other similar foods that you'll want to avoid (you can still enjoy these if you dramatically limit their intake) are garlic and onions. These are all acidic foods that will simply aggravate your heartburn.

Also on this list (I'm slipping these in here, though they aren't necessarily acidic) are chocolate and fried foods. These are foods most of us crave on a daily basis. Unfortunately, they're also heavy foods that easily fill up your stomach. The more food in your stomach, the more acid required to digest the food, the more likely you are to experience heartburn.

Acid Reflux And Diet - The Good Foods

Yes, there are good foods. One caveat, however. As stated above, let me repeat ... it doesn't matter what you eat if you overeat. Any food consumed in excess can trigger heartburn. Now, the flip side of this is also true ... you can enjoy most foods, even those listed above as foods to avoid, if you eat much smaller meals.

Okay, so what can you enjoy? Complex carbohydrates are great. Bread, pasta, and rice, for example, tend to absorb the stomach acid and prevent it from rising up into your esophagus. Baked or broiled foods are generally fine for your diet. Chicken, steak, fish ... all fine as long as you prepare them properly. Water is excellent. Non-carbonated drinks, such as decaf tea or coffee are fine. Herbal tea is a good choice.

It's perfectly okay to experiment with various foods to discover those that tend to trigger your episodes and those that don't seem to bother you. The real key to acid reflux and diet is eating in moderation. Six small meals a day, instead of the traditional three big meals, will make an incredible difference. Try it. I think you'll be amazed at the difference.

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