Acid reflux diet

Causes of acid reflux

When people have a case of acid reflux, it is most commonly caused by eating the wrong foods and having poor eating habits generally.

Acid reflux disease is also known as gastroesophagal reflux disease, or GERD, and it is a very common problem in which the liquid content of the stomach is allowed to leak back up into the esophagus. The contents of the stomach contain acid and when this acidic content gets in contact with the inner lining of the esophagus there will be a burning sensation felt by the person in the chest and throat, which is commonly referred to as heartburn.

It is important not to ignore such pain, because if this continues, it can result in a case of chronic acid reflux disease, which can lead to much more serious health problems.

However, there are diets that can be followed in order to help with acid reflux and provide natural ways to avoid the troublesome symptoms that accompany such a problem. Diet recommendations

Most obviously, foods that are generally known to cause heartburn need to be avoided at all costs. Some of these foods include tomatoes, spice foods, high fat foods, garlic, onion, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol.

It is important to note that different foods will affect each individual differently, so it is important to observe what foods lead to such problems. Perhaps it would be a good idea to keep a diary and to note what food was eaten when heartburn occurred.

It is also of utmost importance to eat slowly and to chew food properly. Smaller bites need to be taken, and also, it is recommended that people eat more times a day in smaller portions instead of limiting themselves to three large meals each day. Another recommendation is that people should not be lying down and resting at least two hours after the meal, because it is important to keep the upper body elevated.

It is also important not to drink a lot of beverages during means and avoid eating late at night before going to bed.

There are foods that are recommended to be eaten when a person is having acid reflux problems. Some of these foods include multi-grain or white bread, corn bread, pretzels, red licorice, jelly beans, fat free cookies, fat free cheese like feta or goat cheese and meats such as skinless chicken breasts, fish, steak and lean ground beef.

It is also recommended to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, including green peas, potato, broccoli, melons, apples, bananas, celery, cabbage and fennel.

As far as beverages are concerned, people with acid reflux need to consume more water, decaffeinated tea and non-citrus juices.