Are
there any acid reflux food plans that can
relieve your acid reflux symptoms? Like many other
patients you may wonder, whether the consumption
of certain foods while avoiding foods that
aggravate acid reflux (GERD) can help you to
overcome your medical condition.
The
acid reflux condition is usually characterized by
a damaged esophagus, a weakened LES (lower
esophageal sphincter) and extra acidity in the
stomach. Both
physicians and paraprofessionals believe that
certain lifestyle changes including the
introduction of certain foods to one’s diet and
eliminating other foods can help acid reflux
sufferers to achieve some relief from these
symptoms.
Developing
a comprehensive acid reflux food plan takes
time. Certain foods are prone to trigger an
attack, while others carry less risk. To
understand the effects that different foods have
on your body it is recommended that a food log be
maintained. A food log is like a diary of what you
eat for each meal and the symptoms that you
observe thereafter.
Foods
may be classified into three categories: Safe
foods, moderate foods, and unsafe
foods.
1.
Safe Foods have a very little potential in terms
of causing heartburn. They include fruits like
apples, melons, and bananas, vegetables like
cabbage, carrots, and peas, meat like lean ground
beef, chicken breast, egg whites, fat-free dairy
products such as cheese and grains such as oatmeal
and bran.
2.
Moderate Foods, on the other hand may or may not
cause acid reflux. However, it is better to
consume these items in moderation. Moderate foods
include fruits like peaches, blueberries,
strawberries, and raspberries, dairy products like
milk, yogurt, and cheese varieties such as cheddar
and mozzarella should also be eaten in
moderation.
3.
Unsafe Food carries an increased risk of an acid
reflux attack. These include fruits such as
lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, which are fruits
that are high in acidic content. Vegetables like
onions, garlic are traditional culprits. Meats
with high-fat content should also be avoided. So
should ice cream, chocolates, brownies, doughnuts,
potato chips, and high-fat salad dressings.
Carbonated, caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages
too must be avoided.
There
are many natural ingredients found in grocery
market or health food store, which can reduce acid
reflux painful symptoms. Herbs like slippery elm
and marshmallow have wonderful healing properties.
Aloe vera juice, licorice and natural honey can
sooth the esophagus and assist in the healing
process.
Eating
smaller and more frequent meals, chewing food well
to aid digestion, by eating dinner at least three
hours before retiring one can drastically reduce
the chances of acid reflux. Exercising, loosing
weight, wearing loose clothing, meditation is also
important. All these lifestyle and diet changes
would form a part of the holistic medicine
treatment. They are all very easy to incorporate
into daily life, safe and have long-term
effects.
