Acid Reflux Disease Diet

Acid reflux disease is a medical condition, wherein the contents of the stomach, including the digestive juices flow back to the esophagus, and sometimes out of the mouth and the nose. While some people may experience this condition occasionally, for some others it is a persistent problem. Such a condition is termed as acid reflux disease or Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is characterized by heartburn and nausea. This condition can lead to many serious complications if left untreated. Other than the conventional treatment options, doctors also recommend lifestyle changes, which include a change in the diet. The basic idea of such a diet is to avoid those foods that trigger the symptoms of acid reflux disease. The following are some acid reflux diet tips which can help you to plan a GERD diet.

Diet for Acid Reflux Disease

Though there are several causes of acid reflux disease, it has been observed that certain food items can trigger the symptoms of this ailment. Hence, a proper acid reflux disease diet can be very much useful for those suffering from this condition. Such an acid reflux diet can alleviate the symptoms and provide relief to the affected person. Though there are some food items which has to be avoided by everyone with this condition, it can vary from one person to another. While one of the affected person does not have any problem with a food item, the same can develop symptoms in another person with this disease. So you have to identify the food items that are problematic for you and eliminate those from your acid reflux disease diet plan.

Acid Reflux Disease - Foods to Avoid

Some food items have been identified as harmful for those affected with acid reflux disease, as these foods can trigger the symptoms. These include citrus fruits, grapes, cranberry, tomatoes, raw onion, lemonade, caffeine, chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, carbonated drinks, spicy food, fatty foods, fast foods, fried foods, ice cream, cottage cheese, milk shakes, sour cream, macaroni, spaghetti, French fries, chicken nuggets, ground beef, dough nuts, butter cookies, brownies, fries, whole milk, oils, etc. While some of these food items may not produce any symptoms in some patients, others may experience heartburn after consuming a particular food item from the above list. Even though different patients may react differently to such foods, it is always advisable to avoid such things which can stimulate the production of more acid in the stomach.

Foods to be Included in Acid Reflux Diet

While some food items like those discussed above are not considered to be good for those affected with acid reflux disease, there are certain food items which are beneficial for them. Such foods have to be included in the GERD diet, as they help you lessen the symptoms of this disease. The list of beneficial foods include whole grains, apples, bananas, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, baked potato, green beans, peas, fish, egg whites, cereal, oatmeal, chicken breast (skinless), London Broil, etc. All these food items are considered to be safe and good for people with acid reflux disease. But if you are not comfortable with any of these things, it is better to avoid the same. There are many natural cures for acid reflux, like yogurt, kefir, ginger root, etc., which can also be included in the diet, if you can tolerate them.

A suitable acid reflux diet includes those foods which can provide you with proper nutrition, and at the same time do not aggravate the symptoms of the disease. It should consist of five to six small and light meals instead of three heavy ones. Avoid late night snacks and tobacco. Don't lie down immediately after meals. Adopt a suitable exercise program and lose weight if you are obese. All these measures, along with a proper acid reflux diet and medications can help you to alleviate the symptoms and control the disease.