Acid Reflux: Foods to Avoid!

The pain of heartburn is not just a small inconvenience for the more than 60 million Americans who suffer from acid reflux disease.  Acid reflux is a problematic condition in which acids and liquid from the stomach are refluxed back into the esophagus from the stomach, causing symptoms like heartburn.

When the muscular ring that joins the stomach with the esophagus (the lower esophageal sphincter muscle or LES) fails to do its job, stomach acid splashes up into the esophagus, causing acid reflux and related heartburn. If you suffer from acid reflux, there are certain dietary changes that can be made to help you control the symptoms that accompany the condition, which includes avoiding consumption of particular foods that can increase your incidence of acid reflux.

It is estimated that up to 90% of all incidences of heartburn, the biggest problem for acid reflux sufferers can be alleviated by dietary changes.  In general, the following foods (and drinks) should be avoided:

• Fruit juices and fruits that can worsen acid reflex disease include lemons and lemonade, oranges and orange juice, grapefruit and grapefruit juice, cranberries and cranberry juice, tomatoes and tomato juice.
• Vegetables in general do not bring on acid reflex (other than raw onion), but the preparation methods for French fries and mashed potatoes can – so avoid these altogether.
• Meat products like ground beef, Buffalo wings, chicken nuggets and certain types of sirloin can cause a worsening of acid reflux symptoms.
• Dairy products like milkshakes, sour cream, ice cream and cottage cheese can cause heartburn.
• Liquor, wine, coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks can irritate the stomach and lead to greater incidences of acid reflux.  Carbonated waters and drinks should also be avoided.
• Snack foods that contain chocolate, as well as those that are high in fat should be avoided by those who suffer from acid reflex disease.

More Tips to Reduce Acid Reflux Symptoms

While these foods and beverages are known to contribute to acid reflux and heartburn, there are additional tips for avoiding heartburn and alleviating symptoms of acid reflux disease, including:

• Watch the size of your portions.  Large, heavy meals have a tendency to stay in the stomach for a longer period of time before moving along their way to the small intestine; this exposes the esophagus to the contents of the stomach and stomach acid longer – increasing the incidence of acid reflux.
• Lose weight.  Being overweight can cause the stomach to be distended for longer periods of time, which can weaken the LES muscle that keeps acid in the stomach where it belongs.
• Keep a daily food diary to review with your primary care physician when discussing your treatment options for acid reflux disease.
• In addition to the foods listed above, there are also “trigger” foods that are unique for each individual sufferer of acid reflux.  Find out what triggers your acid reflux and avoid those foods; as an example, many people cannot tolerate the spiciness of Mexican cuisine.
• Be certain to get enough water in your diet.  Adequate water intake will help minimize the acid in the stomach and normalizes the PH level of the entire digestive tract.
• Avoid eating late in the evening, and if you must eat late – eat light.  Heavy meals can bog down the digestive system and stay in the stomach for longer periods of time, increasing the likelihood of acid reflux and heartburn.  Light, low fat meals should be consumed in the afternoon; snacks should be light as well.  Avoid eating after 7 p.m., or three hours before bedtime whenever possible.