Acid Reflux and Diet

If you have ever had acid back up out of your stomach and into your esophagus, you may have had a severe burning sensation. Other times, maybe a little belch or burp but the acid reflux is so mild you don't think much about it. Either way, it is important to look at the connection of acid reflux and diet.

If you are a sufferer, you know you have got to do something. Many people do not want to take pills, but will reach for the anti acids. What is best though?

Actually neither the pills or the antacids. You really need to take a look at what you ate, how your system reacted with acid reflux and make a change in your diet.

Common foods causing or contributing to acid reflux are:

Coffee
Alcohol
Spicy Foods
Citrus Foods
Sugars
Fried Food
Chocolate

For some people they may also need to watch certain types of onions. Cooked onion may not bother you as much as raw onion.

Now, you would take those mentioned above out of your diet, then after a while, introduce one at a meal and see how things went. Did you have acid reflux, belching or burping? If not, then you might be able to introduce that back into your diet on a part time basis, or perhaps permanently. Carefully watch how the acid reflux goes. You may want to write this down in a diary, so that you can keep track.

Now notice what happens when you eat less food mentioned above and more vegetables and fruit. Most vegetables and some fruit are more alkaline forming foods, so they help to balance the acid condition.

Beginning to see the picture? Acid Reflux and diet are connected. Generally speaking, certain foods can cause acid reflux. Certain foods can help your body overcome the problem.

Another suggestion that works time after time is to eat smaller meals. Don't put as much on your plate. That does not mean you have to starve. You can eat four meals instead of three, or three meals and one or two snacks and do just fine. The rule is don't eat big meals, and give your stomach time to digest your food before ingesting the next meal.

Are you a soda drinker? Bad news for reflux suffers. The bubbles in the drinks expand the stomach a little. They can have the same effect on the stomach as over eating, so cut back or cut out your sodas.

Don't eat to close to bedtime. Leave at least three hours before bedtime, to give you stomach a chance to digest the contents completely. That way, you don't have the reflux of acid coming up into your esophagus when you lay down. If you have ever missed sleep because of acid reflux, this tip alone can help quite a bit.

Your esophagus can heal from the burning caused by stomach acid in about seven weeks, once you start proper care of your digestive system and decrease your chances of an episode occurring.