Foods Good for Acid Reflux

Acid reflux disease, also known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a condition when the acid in the stomach seeps back into the esophagus and the throat. This causes a lot of discomfort, and leads to symptoms like difficulty in swallowing, chest pain and heartburn. There are several causes for acid reflux disease, the most prominent being improper functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscles. Similarly, irregular eating habits and smoking also contribute a lot in causing acid reflux disease. Although, there are several treatment methods available for treating acid reflux, it is possible to alleviate the symptoms and discomfort merely by following a diet. Let us know more about it.


In most of the cases, it is found that acid reflux disease is caused due to ever-changing and improper food habits. Having larger and spicy meals, specially at night, can trigger off symptoms of acid reflux. Therefore, some of the most basic ways or remedies to avoid acid reflux is to try to have meals at same time every day. Secondly, larger meals should be avoided, specially at night. Thirdly, it is also essential to make proper food choices for treating acid reflux. There are certain foods which when consumed have higher chances of causing acid reflux. These foods, naturally, need to be avoided. On the other hand, talking about food choices, which foods are to be included in the acid reflux diet plan? Let us take a look.


The following is a list of good foods to eat for acid reflux. These foods do not cause heartburn and acid reflux. Therefore, people suffering from acid reflux can safely consume these foods.

Fruits and Vegetables: Vegetables and fruits rarely cause heartburn and acid reflux. Fruits and vegetables are also good for overall health and help in preventing several health disorders. Fruits good for acid reflux are apples, bananas, melons, pears and peaches. Vegetables good for acid reflux include baked potato, broccoli, carrots, celery, fennel, green beans and peas. Now, it is essential to note that these vegetables should not be fried as it can aggravate acid reflux.

Grains: Low fat containing grains like multigrain, white bread, bran, oatmeal, cereals, brown or white rice, whole wheat flour are good foods for acid reflux. Baked and fat free cookies, Graham crackers, rice cakes, pretzels, bran muffins, etc. are also safe to eat.

Meat and Dairy: Chicken breast, egg white, fish, steak do not cause acid reflux. However, these should be consumed without adding extra fats or seasoning. Marinating or frying meats can also cause acid reflux and hence, should be avoided. On the other hand, fat free creams, soy cheese and goat or feta cheeses can also be consumed. Fat free oils and salad dressing can also be safely consumed.


As mentioned above, certain foods trigger off symptoms of acid reflux like heartburn, acidity, etc. It is essential to identify these foods and exclude them from the diet. Following is a list of foods that should be avoided.

• Spicy, fried and hot food (containing peppers)
• Citrus fruits like lemon, oranges
• Coffee and soda
• Tomatoes, tomato sauce
• Peppermint, chocolates, cheese
• Garlic, onion
• Sausage, bacon, any fried meat
• Ice cream
• Alcohol

Making healthy food choice is the key for treatment and prevention of acid reflux disease. The GERD or acid reflux diet is simple and very effective. You should keep a check on the foods you consume every day and exclude the ones that cause discomfort. Lastly, it is recommended to make changes in your diet only on consulting the doctor. Take care!