Alkaline Foods for Acid Reflux

All over the world, there are millions of people who are suffering from the acid reflux disease. In the United States alone, over 20 million people have to deal with this condition, which is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This condition could be controlled to some extent by consuming alkaline foods for acid reflux or with natural treatment for acid reflux.

How GERD attacks? The esophagus leads from the throat and opens into the stomach. This opening is guarded by a circular muscle band which is known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). LES is entrusted with the task of maintaining one-way traffic of food; from the throat to the stomach. When this sphincter starts malfunctioning, the gastric acid which is involved in the process of digestion, starts seeping into the esophagus, especially when you are laying down. The gastric acid acts as an irritant on the unprotected cartilaginous wall of the esophagus which leads to the symptoms of acid reflux disease. Apart from the malfunctioning LES, there are other causes of acid reflux and you may need hiatal hernia diet, to reign it. The following is a brief note on the alkaline diet foods or the GERD diet which hopefully may help you in countering the ill effects of the acid reflux disease.

Alkaline Diet For Acid Reflux
A conventional doctor may treat you for acid reflux disease, which can trouble men, women and infants, by prescribing antacid for you. However, some experts suggest that the acid-alkaline balance of body can be controlled through the diet. A slight deviation in the acid-alkaline balance of the body can retard many chemical reactions in the body, leading to hormonal, mineral imbalance. It also affects the body functions involved in maintaining the acid-alkaline balance of the body.

If you eat food items that are known to be acidic in nature, you only add it to the gastric acid present in the stomach. On the contrary, alkaline food neutralizes the acid present in the stomach and is a step towards restoring the acid-alkaline balance of the body. What is the mechanism of this action? A substance such as an acid releases hydrogen into a solution and thus changes its chemistry, whilst an alkaline substance removes the hydrogen and neutralizes the solution. The following is a list of alkaline foods which you may include in the acid reflux disease diet:

• One of the health benefits of asparagus is that it helps to maintain the acid-alkali balance of the body
• Artichokes
• Vegetables like cabbages, lettuce, onion, cauliflower and peas can help you effectively
• Radish
• Swede
• Lambs Lettuce
• Courgette
• Leeks
• Watercress
• Spinach, parsley, milk and eggs which contains glutamine can also be consumed as alkaline foods for acid reflux
• Turnip
• Chives
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Beetroot
• Garlic in the form of garlic tea
• Potatoes
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Broccoli
• Kale cabbage: Health benefits of kale cabbage
• Brussels sprouts
• Food items that are rich in fats and oils can also serve as alkaline foods for acid reflux. These include coconut oil, olive oil, avocados, olive, evening primrose
• Inclusion of sprouts in food diet for acid reflux. Sprouts such as soy, mung bean, wheat, little radish, chickpea and broccoli etc, may help you in your efforts to vary your diet
• Seeds, nuts and grains such as almonds, pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, flax, buckwheat groats, cumin seeds, rice and wheat are useful as alkaline foods for acid reflux
• Any sprouted seed
• Drinks: You can consume alkaline foods for acid reflux in the form of fresh vegetable juice, pure water which is chemically neutral in nature, lemon water, herbal teas, vegetable broth and soy products such as unsweetened milk
• Alkaline foods for acid reflux in the form of fruits or products derived from fruits such as almonds milk, lemon, avocado, tomatoes, blueberries and strawberries in moderate amounts, bananas, grapes, watermelon, apples and papaya
• Normally, fresh fish like salmon, are safe to eat, but some of the fish may not suit your condition
• Read more on foods to avoid and acid reflux diet tips in order to control acid reflux

If you are affected by the acid reflux disease or GERD, it means you have to change your lifestyle. You can start by changing your diet alkaline foods for acid reflux that will be easy on your stomach.