Eating fast foods, chili, hot wings and hamburgers, lots of fatty snacks and ice cream are some of the most irritating, acid-forming foods you can put into your stomach. Painful, uncomfortable symptoms of acid reflux--including burning, sore throats, sleep apnea, insomnia, bloating after meals, pain in your back and kidney region--are easy to eliminate when you know how to eat properly. Learning what foods to consume that will soothe your digestive tract, neutralizing acids, will afford you almost instant relief from these symptoms.
Fruits and Vegetables
Alkaline forming and not prone to cause dangerous acidosis, fresh fruits and most vegetables will relieve acid reflux symptoms, according to Dr. Theodore A. Baroody in his book, "Alkalize or Die." Sweeter fruits are more alkaline-forming and protect the linings of the stomach and esophagus. Try berries, sweet red apples, melons and yellow bananas. Vegetables to try include leafy green vegetables like collard greens, spinach, Chinese cabbage and kale, in addition to celery, carrots, avocados and artichokes.
Sweets
Raw honey is high in potassium, helping to assist the kidneys in clearing waste products from the body. Soothing to the stomach and alkaline-forming in the system, honey stimulates the production of bicarbonate from the pancreas and promotes digestive health. Take a spoonful straight or mix in drinks and use in baking in place of white sugar to relieve and prevent symptoms.
Complex Carbohydrates
Starchy vegetables like plantains, taro root and sweet potatoes are soothing to the digestive tract and help create an alkaline balance in the stomach, explain the Youngs' in their book, "The pH Miracle." Alkaline-forming "tiny grains," such as amaranth, quinoa or millet are great substitutes for the more acid-producing, nutritionally bankrupt white rice or wheat-based pastas. Dr. Baroody explains that the body is meant to be maintained in a slightly alkaline state, so these foods are excellent for doing so.
Spices and Condiments
Use green spices like basil, sage, thyme and oregano, in place of hot spices and peppers and add brown spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice for seasoning. Ginger is an excellent medicinal for relieving acid reflux symptoms.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) in salad dressings, homemade mayonnaise and other sauces is a great way to incorporate this wonder food into your diet, according to Dr. Baroody. ACV is one of the top foods recommended by Dr. Baroody for relieving the acidic state in the body. An acid itself, ACV stimulates the production of bicarbonate during digestion, which neutralizes the food/acid mix during the digestive process.
Additional Considerations
Frequent, small meals are recommended by the Mayo Clinic. Mixing saliva with foods by chewing them thoroughly initiates the digestive process in the mouth and preventing GERD symptoms.
References
- "Alkalize or Die;" Dr. Theodore A. Baroody;1991: Alkalinize to neutralize acids
- "The pH Miracle;" Robert O. Young, Ph.D. and Shelly Redford Young; 2003
- Mayo Clinic: Heartburn
