Acid reflux is a less serious form of gastroesophageal reflux or GER. When acid reflux occurs you can feel or taste food and fluid in the back of your mouth. This fluid is highly acidic and will cause a burning sensation in the chest or throat as it touches the esophagus. This is called heartburn or indigestion. Occasional acid reflux is not uncommon but is considered persistent when it happens more than twice a week, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Anatomy
The esophagus is a narrow tube made of muscle that carries food from the mouth into the stomach. At the junction of the esophagus and stomach is a ring that normally prevents the backflow of food and acid from the stomach, up the esophagus. When this sphincter does not function correctly, food and acid are allowed to travel out of the stomach causing burning and can also lead to damage of the lower esophagus. Physical factors that increase your risk of developing acid reflux are obesity, pregnancy, tight fitting clothing and lying down directly after a large meal. Each of these factors increases the exposure of the lower esophageal sphincter to stomach acid and increases the potential that the sphincter will leak acid into the esophagus, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Dietary Restrictions and Triggers
Lifestyle modifications are the first recommendations that physicians make to their patients who suffer from chronic acid reflux. Common foods that are associated triggers are citrus fruits, chocolate, caffeinated drinks, alcohol, fatty foods, garlic and onions, mint flavored foods and drinks, spicy foods and tomato-based foods, according to the National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse. However, in a study published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine," researchers found these recommendations may not be accurate. In an evaluation of 100 different studies, they found insufficient evidence to back up these recommendations. Although there were associations between smoking, alcohol, chocolate, fatty foods and citrus fruits with an increase in acid reflux, they did not find that removal of these items from the diet entirely would improve the symptoms significantly. This means that although symptoms improve with elimination of the dietary triggers, there was not enough evidence to suggest that elimination would improve the overall disease process.
Dietary Additions
On their patient page, the "Journal of the American Medical Association" advises avoiding foods that increase acid production in the stomach, and therefore increases the potential for reflux. Foods that do not increase stomach acidity include asparagus, parsley, raw spinach, broccoli, okra, squash, potatoes, almonds, bananas, pineapple, avocado, carrots, quinoa, wild rice and soy products, according to Alkaline-Alkaline.com.
Allergies
The American Medical Association also recognizes the interaction that food allergens have on acid reflux. In AmedNews.com, published by the American Medical Association, news staff report that patients who do not respond to lifestyle changes and medications may be experiencing eosinophilic esophagitis, or EE. The condition is believed to be triggered by an allergic reaction that prompts inflammation, regurgitation, chest pain, heartburn and dysphagia. If you suspect that you may have more than simple heartburn or have symptoms that are not alleviated with medications and dietary changes, you can consider a referral to a gastroenterologist who is familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of EE.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gastroesphageal Reflux
- Archives of Internal Medicine; "Are Lifestyle Measures Effective in Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?"; T. Kaltenbach, S. Crockett, L. Gerson; 2006
- Journal of American Medical Association: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Alkaline-Alkaline.com: Food pH Chart
- AmedNews.com; "An Alternative Diagnosis to GERD Centers on Food Allergies"; Susan Landers; April 2009
