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Best and Worst Foods for Acid Reflux

Best and Worst Foods for Acid Reflux

September 23, 2019

Acid reflux or also called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the heartburn and ingestion you experience because of improper digestion in your body affecting the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and causing disorders where the contents of the stomach are returned to the esophageal which should otherwise be freely flowing into the stomach. The esophageal opens to allow the food to pass swiftly through it to the stomach and closes to prevent any acid and juices from the digestion process in the stomach to flow back into the esophageal. Acid reflux occurs when this natural process is hampered and the food flows back into the esophageal due to the LES being weak and relaxing inappropriately.

This disorder causes one to experience the burning sensation and acidity. While there are multiple over-the-counter drugs available for acidity treatment, Gas-O-Fast suggests you try Gas-O-Fast’s sachet that contain digestive enzymes and remove acidity from the root, giving you instant relief from acid reflux and heartburn.

Also, to ensure the acid reflux problem does not occur frequently, Gas-O-Fast has created this list of the best and worst foods for acid reflux situations.

Best Foods for Acid Reflux

Vegetables
Green vegetables such as beans, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, leafy greens, spinach, and kale are low in fat and sugar which helps in easier digestion and keeps the body weight healthy. These vegetables help to reduce stomach acid and do not hinder the natural process of food digestion. Including green vegetables in your diet is extremely beneficial for acidity cure. You can opt for cucumbers and potatoes which are also known to help in the reduction of acid in the stomach. Drinking vegetable soup is also another way to get hands-on these effective home remedies for acidity. 

Ginger
Ginger has supreme anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that promote natural and healthy digestion. It is also a natural cure for heartburn and various other gastrointestinal problems such as bloating and gas in the stomach. Thus, ginger becomes just the perfect home remedy for acidity. Ginger is also helpful in reducing nausea, muscle pain, swelling, and gastrointestinal irritation. You can grate an inch of ginger, boil it in a cup of water for 5 minutes, and drink it post all three meals to avoid acidity symptoms. Alternatively, you can add ginger to your food recipes and smoothies.

Oatmeal
Full of fiber, oatmeal is a great food that helps stay clear of acidity symptoms. Fiber present in oatmeal promotes intestinal health, reduces constipation, and makes you feel fuller for a longer time. 

Non-citrus Fruits
You should consume non-citrus fruits such as melons, bananas, apples, and pears in your diet to help with acidity symptoms. These non-citrus fruits are less likely to trigger heartburn and acidity.

Lean Meats and Seafood
Lean meats including skinless chicken (the skin of the chicken is home to 80% of fat content), turkey, fish, and fat-trimmed pork chops are relatively low in fat, calorie content, and are a good source of protein. You can also include seafood in your diet to fight against acidity. Lean meats can be grilled, broiled, baked or poached as per preference. These low-fat, rich in protein, low-calorie food items effectively reduce symptoms of acid reflux.

Egg Whites
Eggs are a rich source of protein but to avoid acid in the stomach you must separate the yolk from the whites and consume the whites as they act as a lean source of protein helping to reduce acidity and acid reflux symptoms. Egg yolks are high in fat and can trigger acidity in some cases. 

Healthy Fats
Consumption of healthy fats, basically monounsaturated fats such as avocados, peanuts, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, sesame, canola, and sunflower oil is good to reduce acidity. You should also consume polyunsaturated fats including safflower, soybean, corn, flaxseeds, walnuts, soybeans, tofu, salmon, and trout, which are also healthy and do no trigger acidity symptoms. Intake of Trans fat and saturated fats should be avoided to shun the acid in the stomach. 

Worst Foods for Acid Reflux

Tomatoes and Citrus Fruits: For people, who experience frequent acidity symptoms, citrus fruits such as orange, lemons, grapefruit, tangerines, and pomelos – should be avoided as they cause acid reflux in the body. One should also stay clear of tomatoes to avoid any acid reflux symptoms.

High-fat foods: High-fat foods such as French fries, onion rings, full-fat dairy products, desserts, snacks, heavy gravies, cream sauces, salad dressings, oily and greasy foods, etc. cause the LES to relax leading to more flow acid into the esophagus, thus causing acidity and heartburn.

Chocolate: Chocolate contains methylxanthine – an ingredient that causes the LES muscles to relax inappropriately causing acidity. 

Caffeine: Caffeine can cause the acidity symptoms to aggravate, hence it should be avoided if the acid reflux problem is frequent.

Garlic, Onion, and Spicy Food: These foods have known to trigger acidity symptoms in many people though not all. Hence, it is best to keep consumption of these items at a minimum; though spicy foods should be avoided at all costs.

Apart from these, a few healthy habits and lifestyle changes - such as no smoking, light meals, no bedtime snacking, comfortable clothes, healthy weight, etc. - will really help with acid reflux problems. 
 


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Disclaimer This blog solely intended for the educational/informational/awareness purposes and is not a substitute for any professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your doctor/healthcare professional before acting on the information provided on the blog. Reliance on any or all information provided in the blog, is solely at your own risk and responsibility. Mankind Pharma Limited shall not be held liable, in any circumstance whatsoever.

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