Being troubled by acid reflux, commonly referred to as heartburn, can at times be frightening if you experience intense burning pain that you can't identify. Acid reflux can, over time, create serious damage to the lining of the esophagus and have numerous bothersome symptoms ranging from minor belching and bloating all the way to esophageal cancer. Take care of acid reflux now and feel better for it, while preventing more serious conditions from developing.
Step 1
Keep a food diary of what you eat and how you feel afterward. This will give you a guide to refer to about foods to avoid to prevent reflux.
Step 2
The Mayo Clinic suggests eating six small meals daily to prevent the buildup of large quantities of food in the stomach, which puts pressure on the lower esophageal valve. It is a weakness in this valve that allows food and stomach acids to back up into the esophagus.
Step 3
Loose weight. Obesity has been shown to be a cause of severe heartburn according to the Mayo Clinic, and losing some of the extra pounds helps relieve pressure on the stomach and esophageal valve, preventing regurgitation of food and acid into the esophagus and throat.
Step 4
Alkalinize your diet, suggests Dr.Theodore A. Baroody in his book "Alkalinize or Die." Dr. Baroody suggests using foods and supplements such as apple cider vinegar and baking soda to create an alkaline-forming state in the stomach, aiding digestion. By consuming certain foods such as lemons, cream of tartar, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, applesauce, alkaline whole grains as well as organic fruits and vegetable,s you can alter the pH in your stomach and aid digestion without experiencing painful reflux symptoms.
Step 5
Eat sweet red apples to reduce reflux symptoms, recommends Earth Clinic.com. Apples help to alkalinize the body and are great for stopping heartburn symptoms. Try a few slices after a meal or before bed if you experience symptoms. They don't work for everyone, but it is worth giving them a chance to see if you get relief. The sweeter the better for apples. Avoid green apples, as they won't work in this capacity.
Step 6
Eliminate trigger foods such as pepper, chili, hot sauces, carbonated beverages, alcohol, coffee, tea, oranges and grapefruit juice because they can trigger acid production, aggravating reflux, says the Mayo Clinic.
Tips and Warnings
- Try many things in your quest to find what works best for you. If you eat something that creates a reflux attack, just remember to add that information to your food journal and keep trying other foods.
- The information offered here is for educational purposes and is not meant to replace medical advice.
Things You'll Need
- Lemons
- Baking soda
- Cream of tartar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Apples
- Journal
References
- "Alkalinize or Die," Dr. Theodore A. Baroody, 1991
- Mayo Clinic: Heartburn
- Earth Clinic Folk Remedies
