How to Eat an Acid Reflux Diet

What is an acid reflux diet? An acid reflux diet is primarily one which avoids foods that worsen acid reflux symptoms.

Mild cases of acid reflux may be entirely controlled with an acid reflux diet. In more severe cases, it should dramatically lessen symptoms.

Changing your diet will be hard to do, but this diet will not only relieve GERD or acid reflux symptoms, but also supports weight loss efforts and will lead to a healthier lifestyle.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Food Journal

1. 
   5-6 Small Meals a Day

   EAT 5-6 SMALL MEALS A DAY - A great way to start your acid reflux diet is to simply eat less food more times a day. This is also great for your metabolism!! Plan out foods that you like and follow the acid reflux diet that you can take to work, eat in the car, etc. Think tupperware and plastic baggies for small meals that can be eaten anywhere.
   
   At restaurants ask for a to-go bag and automatically put away some of your food to resist overeating and inflaming your acid reflux.
   
   Eating smaller meals puts less stress on the muscles involved in acid reflux.

2. 
   Avoid Caffeine

   AVOID CAFFEINE - While this may be hard for all you coffee addicts out there, avoiding caffeine will significantly reduce acid reflux symptoms.
   
   An acid reflux diet should exclude coffee, caffeinated teas and sodas, and chocolate.
   
   For those who need an extra boost, consider using B12 vitamins for a much smaller, but extra boost.

3. 
   Avoid Acidic Fruits

   AVOID ACIDIC FRUITS & JUICES - Acidic fruits will increase stomach acid production and worsen your symptoms.
   
   Avoid highly acidic fruits such as: lemons, oranges, grapefruits, pineapples, sour grapes and tomatoes.
   
   Choose instead fruits low in acid such as strawberries, raspberries, mangoes, nectarines, and cherries.

4. 
   Avoid Fatty Foods

   AVOID FATTY FOODS - What a great motivator to cut out those horrible fatty foods which taste so good! High fat foods increase acid production.
   
   Lay off fatty foods for your acid reflux diet and reduce symptoms and lose weight.

5. 
   Avoid Alcohol

   AVOID ALCOHOL - Alcohol can worsen your acid reflex or GERD symptoms. Avoid alcohol for the acid reflux diet and you will find it truly effects how you feel.

6. 
   Eat Supper Early

   EAT AN EARLY SUPPER - Eating your last meal 2 hours before you lie down to sleep will ease acid reflux symptoms.
   
   Acid reflux attacks happen most often when the body is flat, use fluffy pillows to prop up your head for less chance of acid reflux.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, fatty foods and eating more times a week will make you a healthier and less painful you! Follow these guidelines to the best of your ability. Also realize, that each person's body is unique. If you are going to splurge, keep a journal and report each time you splurge and any side effects you experience.
• Some people also report that spicy food exacerbates acid reflux. To be extra careful, you may want to avoid spicy foods in your acid reflux diet as well.

Resources

• Web MD Heartburn and GERD Support & Resources

[fen527]

on 7/14/2009 Excellent article. I agree that these are good tips regardless of whether or not you have acid reflux (except maybe step 3).