Acid Reflux Diet

People experience acid reflux because acid is backing up from their stomachs affecting the food pipe or esophagus. It can cause people a lot of proplems and pain if it isn’t treated properly. In medical terms acid reflux is also known as the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

GERD affects up to one third of the adult population of the U.S. However, not only adults are effected but infants and children as well. Two major causes of the disease are people’s diets and their sleeping habits. Those have to be changed in order to reduce a person’s exposure to acid reflux.

Change your eating habits

As the LES muscle that closes off our stomach is effected by pressure a good remedy for the acid reflux disease would be to fast and to keep your stomach empty. The fasting should take place on three consecutive days. If you have the intention to fast for more then 3 days, it is definitely recommended to talk to a physician first.

It is also required to drink a lot of fruit juices like apple juice, carrot juice, cabbage juice or lime juice with water and tea. Additionally, you can also add another single food item to your diet on the first day, for instance carrots, apples or brown rice. On the second day you continue with this mono acid reflux diet plus you eat some fruits. On the final day of fasting you can eat salads, fresh fruits, or steamed vegetables, too. After those 3 days most people feel a lot better than they did before.

Which foods should you avoid?

There are several foods which in general have a negative impact on your acid reflux problem and which you should try to avoid if possible. If you stick to the following rules the chances are high that you will be able to get rid of your acid reflux problems:

  • Don’t eat an excessive amount food which has vitamin C.
  • Avoid spicy foods, chocolate, peppermint, alcohol and coffee.
  • You should try to maintain an upright position for 45 minutes after eating.
  • Try to avoid eating tomatoes and oranges because these are acidic foods.
  • Don’t eat too much food at the same time. Keep your stomach slight empty.
  • Avoid milk and milk products before bed time because they contain calcium and fat.
  • Don’t eat 2 hours before you go to bed and don’t lie down immediately after eating a meal.
  • Avoid vegetables like cabbage, onions, cauliflower, spinach, and broccoli.
  • Avoid smoking, soft drinks and food which has a high amount of fats.
  • Acid Reflux patients should avoid drinks which contain air or compressed gases. Hence, avoid carbonated drinks as far as possible. Beware that both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks can contain air or carbon dioxide.

What you should eat!

It is logical that nobody is capable of changing his/her diet from one day to the other. As with a normal diet to lose weight a change in your diet to cure your acid reflux requires to follow a proper plan. This is due to the fact that with a proper plan in place, accepting the change in diet will be more easily. Your body will get tuned gradually, too. Moreover, the diet will then work in the most effective way.

There are different types of food that can be eaten at different times of the day and which are good for people who are suffering from acid reflux:

  • Breakfast Menu

We are all aware of the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Many people still ignore this rule and don’t eat anything at all or not enough for breakfast. For people suffering from heartburn breakfast is important too. An ideal breakfast menu can include oatmeal cereals, milk, bread with a tablespoon of margarine and some papaya. The quantity of these foods can be adjusted somewhat depending upon your needs. Usually, a cup of oatmeal cereal, about one glass of skimmed milk, 2-3 bread slices and about 5 papaya slices serves as a good meal to start the day.

  • Lunch Menu

An important way to eliminate heartburn is to have a good lunch. Heartburn patients are advised to start with some light food like a soup and sandwich. Soups like chicken soup or chicken noodle soup would be best for you. A perfect sandwich for a heartburn patient would for instance consist of 2-3 slices of whole grain breads with a little mayonnaise, 4 oz of chicken and apple sauce with no sweetener. You can also add some vegetables like lettuce and carrots if you want to.

  • Dinner Menu

Having discussed breakfast and lunch the only meal that is left is dinner. There is quite a variety of choices for hearburn patients available if it comes to dinner. You can eat a variety of meat, but it is recommended to be in the right quantity. The meat options you have are chicken (not fried, but baked), turkey or shrimp. You can have some rice or bread as a side dish. What you should never do is to overeat on your meals, because if you do so, it has the probability of becoming a cause of heartburn again.

The reason why acid Reflux is often ignored, is the fact that it is not a major disease. However, if you are experiencing some of the previously described heartburn symptoms visiting a doctor is recommended.

There is also research in process to eliminate it in neurologically impaired children. For normal adults, a simple change in diet can get you relieved from this sickness for your entire life time. Acid Reflux is often due to irregular eating habits, digestion problems and insufficient sleep. If someone has the will to change his or her eating and sleeping habits then he/she can definitely control and eliminate acid reflux problems..