An acid reflux diet can help reduce heartburn and indigestion by eliminating high-fat foods and emphasizing low-risk foods such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat meats, and whole grains. Eating smaller meals, avoiding food before bedtime, and keeping the head elevated while sleeping can also help. It’s important to consult a doctor for a diagnosis and to follow their advice on medical care and behavior changes.
Acid reflux is a condition in which stomach acid leaks back into the esophagus. This can lead to painful heartburn, and the condition may require more treatment than just changing your diet. However, it is known that following a recommended acid reflux diet or one for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can help reduce the incidence of heartburn and indigestion.
There are many acid reflux diets out there, but most have some similarities that can help you get started. Most diets focus on eliminating certain foods that create more acid. Another focus of a good acid reflux diet is eating patterns – how you eat can influence the degree to which you may suffer from acid reflux.
An acid reflux diet can emphasize what you can eat without fear of additional problems. Foods that are considered low risk include fruits such as apples and bananas, most vegetables, low-fat meats, low-fat dairy, and whole grain breads, pastas, and cereals. Some diets add another list of foods that may not bother most people, and these include low-acid citrus juices, onions and garlic, some cheeses, and even low-fat crackers.
The main thing that an acid reflux diet will suggest that people avoid are extremely high-fat foods. It is recommended that you stay away from fried foods, most fast foods, and high-fat cuts of meat. Some drinks should also be skipped, and these include primarily alcoholic beverages, particularly beer and wine.
There is a lively discussion about whether caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea and carbonated drinks are a good idea. When you’re not sure about a certain food or drink that you really enjoy, you may want to try it out and see how it affects your acid reflux symptoms. If you feel worse after consuming a “test food,” you may want to avoid it in the future.
Another essential element of an acid reflux diet is to focus on how to eat to minimize symptoms. Eating three medium to large meals a day can be problematic for most people. Instead, it is often recommended that people eat smaller meals, perhaps four to six a day. It is equally important to eat slowly, in a fully upright position. You should plan to not eat for about two hours before bedtime, and keeping your head slightly elevated when you sleep can further reduce symptoms.
Since acid reflux usually requires some medical intervention, if you suspect you have it, you should first get a diagnosis from a doctor before treating yourself. Diet may be one way to reduce symptoms, but it’s not the only one. It is important to heed a doctor’s advice about other medical care and behavior changes you can make to help tame this condition.
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