Forms Of Food Groups To Avoid If You Suffer With Acid Reflux
We unfortunately live in a world of diseases and persistent maladies, some more harsh than others. The prospect of facing medical disorders can be disheartening, especially when they impact something we all love to do - eat.
Knowing what kind of acid reflux food to avoid is half the battle toward mastering your condition and ridding yourself of painful and uncomfortable symptoms.
If you’d like to know more about acid reflux and obtain information on how to improve your diet to improve your daily life, read on.
An Introduction to Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is the common term for gastro-esophageal reflux. It’s very common and occurs when the sphincter relaxes. This relaxation then allows stomach acid to make its way up the esophagus and into the throat. It can trigger heartburn and be very uncomfortable, if not painful.
Symptoms include a painful burning sensation in the chest, sour taste in the mouth, occasional breathing difficulties, hoarseness due to irritation of the larynx and belching. Typically, acid reflux is treated with conventional medicine like antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors or even surgery.
However, you can often prevent instances or flare-ups of acid reflux by knowing the types of food to avoid. To learn the categories of food you should cut out of your diet and other lifestyle modifications you can make to improve your acid reflux condition, take a look at the particulars.
Acid Reflux Food to Avoid
To start cutting out common trigger foods, you should begin by avoiding coffee, chocolate, fried and fatty foods, alcohol and spices. Spicy food like onions, peppers, tomatoes and peppermint may stimulate reflux.
Highly acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits may also cause a flare up. If you don’t know what foods are causing your acid reflux, then start to maintain a food and symptoms diary. Keep track of everything you eat along with your symptoms and see if you can recognize a pattern.
When you cut out your trigger foods, replace them with those that are good for acid reflux. For example, foods that are high in fiber can help your body absorb excess acids. Also, whole grains and non-acidic fruits and vegetables can do wonders for reducing acid levels. Your best defense though? Drink at least eight glasses of water every day.
Herbal teas containing ginger, chamomile, catnip, and licorice root, as well as green tea can assist in the repair of the stomach lining. Do not drink mint tea as it may worsen your symptoms. You also want to eat food that’s nourishing to the stomach and spleen like sweet rice, beef, honey, corn, celery, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes.
Changing Your Habits With Acid Reflux
If you’re experiencing an acid reflux attack while lying in bed, try sleeping in a slightly elevated position. Either put pillows behind you or try sleeping in a chair. Another effective method is to engage in anti-stress activities on a daily basis. Cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, will affect stomach acid levels, so reducing your stress will reduce your acid reflux.
The best way to control your acid reflux symptoms is to know what acid reflux food to avoid. By identifying and limiting those trigger foods, you’ll be able to effectively control your symptoms and reduce the suffering.
Filed under Stomach Problems