Acid reflux is a medical condition that creates a burning feeling in the throat and stomach. It may cause coughing, wheezing and difficulty swallowing. The main thing that comes from this is regurgitation but heartburn, pain in the chest and hoarseness are other symptoms of acid reflux. It leaves behind a burning and scratchy feeling because it burns the lining of the esophagus in the throat. That scratchy feeling comes from overflow of food entering the stomach. It comes out in reverse when there too much food in the stomach or certain foods that the stomach can’t handle. It also happens when there is weak muscles in the throat and a defect in the lower esophagus valve. Despite this malfunction in the body it doesn’t change the fact that we have to eat to survive.
Also known as gastro esophageal reflux disease, or GERD, eating the wrong food and eating too quickly can make the condition worse. It is easier to find foods to avoid this because most people know about it. However not many people know what to eat to ease and cure symptoms. They might not even know that eating can help. They assume that medication is the only way. The ones that do assume it’s everything but the avoidable foods but that is not always the case.
To avoid discomfort it is imperative that we know the correct foods to eat with acid reflux.
In the fruit category there are limitations. Oranges and other citrus fruits have juices that are acidic. Those acid juices will make the acid reflux worse. After weeding out the acidic fruits there aren’t too many choices left. The foods to eat with acid reflux are apples, bananas, peaches, melons and pears. These are the fruits with the lowest amount of acid. Berries can be eaten but only once in a while. Lemon is only good for drinking. Make lemonade or squeeze it in warm water.
Vegetables are the safest food group to eat. It is naturally low in fat and will minimize acid reflux. The best veggie foods to eat with acid reflux are green beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, fennel, corn, broccoli, celery, asparagus, artichokes, peas and green leafy vegetable. These foods can be eaten raw or cooked. Eat potatoes and onions cooked, not raw. Garlic, scallions, sauerkraut and leeks are to be eaten every now and then. In other words it’s ok to eat everything but the tomato. Tomatoes can’t be eaten because they are too acidic for the body.
The dairy section is the riskiest food group for acid reflux. Even with that red flag there is a silver lining. Have dairy foods labeled fat-free, skim or low-fat to reduce the inflammation. Dairy foods to eat with acid reflux are cream cheese, soy cream, goat cheese, sour cream, ice cream, feta cheese and any other low-fat, skim or fat-free versions. Cheddar, mozzarella and low-fat cottage cheese can be enjoyed in moderation.
What to look for in grains is a lot of carbohydrates and low in fat. Most of the grains absorb the acid in the body. Types of foods to eat with acid reflux are graham crackers, breads, corn bread, brown rice, semolina wheat, white rice, rice cakes, whole wheat flour, bulgur wheat and pretzels. Be careful eating your favorite cereal; some can aggravate acid reflux. Instead choose bran cereal, rice cereal or oatmeal–the safer alternatives. Have muffins and garlic bread every now and then.
The meat section gets a bit tricky. Solve the puzzle by cooking meat differently. Don’t add tons of spices to meat or cook meat in a pot of oil. Instead eat meat a little healthier. Steam, bake or use a small amount of oil for best results. The best foods to eat with acid reflux are fish, skinless chicken, seafood, skinless turkey and lean meats. Following the cooking methods, however, will allow you to eat all kinds of meat. Also in the meat section is eggs. Consume egg substitutes or egg whites. Scrambled eggs, ham, hot dogs and chicken salad can be enjoyed in moderation.
Are there dessert foods to eat with acid reflux?
The answer may sound like no but like the dairy section there is a silver lining. Avoid the sweet stuff high in sugar. Instead eat safe sweets like red licorice, fat-free cookies and jelly beans. Other great sugary foods are fat-free and low-fat of the following: pudding, yogurt, sorbet. Eat honey for neutralizing acids, soothing the lining of the stomach and reducing pain from acid reflux. For snacks munch on baked potato chips.
Foods to eat with acid reflux also include beverages, oils and spices. Drinking milk may sound like a problem solver because that is the myth we believe. The truth is it doesn’t work. It doesn’t work especially at night. The only safe drink is water. Oils have fat in them and fats are not recommended for people with acid reflux. In fact fats and fatty foods are not allowed at all. With that said there are two safe ones. The only oils that is safe to eat is low-fat salad dressing and oil of clove. Oil of clove is best used when it is mixed with water. It’s strong so pour a few drops. It is also ok to have ketchup and mustard in moderation. Spice foods to eat with acid reflux are ginger and parsley. In moderation ginger stops inflammation and can treat acid reflux symptoms. Parsley uses their herbal medicine to aid in digesting and eases the stomach from acid reflux triggers.
It’s not just what you eat. How you eat matters just as much as the food choices. Eat small meals five to six times daily. Relax before each meal to relieve your mind of stress. Wear loose fitting clothes while eating. Take time to thoroughly chew each bite. Don’t overeat, gulp the food down or eat on the run. The food needs more acid to digest the food therefore it won’t digest as fast. The last meal should be three hours before bed. Make sure that last meal is not a food that will trigger acid reflux. If you feel it coming on before bed eat some crackers. Also elevate your head and chest higher than the feet to avoid acid reflux. Use blocks instead of pillows to achieve this. Small meals are digested and leave the stomach quicker than eating one large meal. It will also reduce internal pressure in the stomach. The acid levels will decrease during that time. It is also important to have good posture after each meal for 45 minutes. Don’t lie down or bend over for two hours.
You would never think to eat or drink it but Aloe Vera is a good choice for treating acid reflux. A natural healing agent Aloe Vera comes in liquid form as a drink in health and grocery stores. It can also be used in recipes to thicken liquids. Aloe Vera has pectin that soothes and heals the esophagus. It also stops the stomach from triggering a reflux. It hinders the creation of abdomen hydrochloric acid. That is the acid that causes acid reflux. Just mix it with tea or non-citrus juice and drink it after meals. Aloe Vera also comes in capsule form. Take Aloe Vera every now and then. Consult a doctor before choosing Aloe Vera for treating acid reflux.
Even though these are the safest foods to eat with acid reflux everyone’s reactions to the food will vary. There may be foods on the list that may not work for you. After all these foods combined is an acid reflux diet made for those who have it. Still it’s important to try these foods out because it’s a trial and error process. Combine foods to make a diet that works for your body. And talk to your doctor if the condition gets worse.
Keep a food journal or diary to have a record of what you eat and when you eat it. Also list if acid reflux occurs and when it occurs. After two weeks of written observation you can pinpoint the meal that caused the reflux to happen. Then you can determine what food caused the disruption. Think about the condiments added to the food. Could it have been one of them? Was it the actual food? The only way to find out is to test it again. Eat the culprits one at a time. See which one of them triggers the acid reflux. Then eliminate it from daily eating. This will take some time but this is necessary. At the same time the journal or diary will keep a record of what is safe to eat.
These are the foods to eat with acid reflux with the best chance of reducing, curing or preventing this condition. The foods may be bland but this is the only way to heal the membranes lining the esophagus and throat. Give this a try and you will be on your way to living a life without dealing with this condition.