A diet to prevent or reduce acid reflux involves a variety of foods with only a few limits on certain items. You may only think of avoiding the foods that cause acid reflux to reduce symptoms. However, nutritious and delicious foods can fit into your daily routine so you can enjoy eating without worries about discomfort from acid reflux.
Function
Acid reflux results in heartburn, a burning feeling in the upper chest and throat that may include a sour taste in the back of the mouth from acidic contents. An esophageal muscle, which normally shuts after food enters the stomach, does not close tightly and allows stomach acid to back up into the esophagus, Medical News Today explains.
Identification
Certain foods weaken the esophageal muscle and trigger acid reflux. Those foods may differ, depending on each person. Fatty foods, fried foods, garlic, citrus fruit, tomatoes, coffee, carbonated beverages and alcohol may cause problems. Knowing your triggers and eliminating them helps with an acid reflux diet.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables contain fiber to aid digestion and reduce acid reflux. Low in fat, these fiber foods do not overwork the stomach. High-fat foods slow the digestive process, making the stomach require more acid to digest them, HealthCastle.com notes. Apples, berries, bananas, peaches, pears and melons provide protective action against acid reflux, according to the acid reflux diet from Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. Avoid citrus fruits and tomatoes, which have acidic properties to encourage acid reflux. Avoid fried or creamy vegetables, but all other vegetables work well in an acid reflux diet.
Grain Protection
Whole grain foods may provide protection through minerals for the esophageal lining, which becomes damaged by frequent acid reflux over time, HealthCentral points out. Whole grains also have high-fiber content to help in digestion and reduce acid production. Whole grains include whole-wheat bread, pasta, cereal and crackers, oatmeal, brown rice and barley. Avoid refined grains, such as white bread and white flour.
Low-Fat Products
Choose low-fat protein foods. Lean meats, poultry without the skin and fish provide protein without the fat to prevent acid reflux. Low-fat or fat-free milk products can replace whole-milk products. Eat low-fat or fat-free sweets, 3 g of fat or less per serving, Jackson Siegelbaum recommends. Avoid chocolate and desserts made with fats. For oils, use olive, canola or peanut oils, which contain monounsaturated fats that do not have the unhealthy aspects of saturated fats.
Considerations
Eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day instead of three large meals. Heavy meals produce more stomach acid. Eating smaller meals, high-fiber foods and low-fat items help you maintain a healthy weight. The risk of acid reflux increases for overweight people because of the pressure it puts on the abdomen.
