Have you ever felt a weird burning sensation in your chest, especially after eating a loaded meal? If so, it might be due to acid reflux. This in itself is not as worrisome since everyone experiences heartburn once in a while. However, if you frequently find yourself wincing from the burning feeling in your chest, there may be a chance of chronic acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
To avoid discomfort from acid reflux, it is important to make changes to your diet. Continue reading this blog to find out what foods are safe to eat and what foods you should avoid.
What is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux is a condition where the sphincter muscle inside your stomach gets weak and fails to do its job. This causes the acid in your belly to shoot back up the esophagus, making it seem like your chest is burning.
Essentially, your stomach is filled with hydrochloric acid, which helps break down and dissolve food. Thus, when this acid washes back up the esophagus, it can make you feel extremely uncomfortable, leading to heartburn.
Acid reflux is usually caused by certain trigger foods that negatively affect the sphincter muscle. This is what ultimately leads to a disrupted digestive system and stomach problems down the line.
Common Foods That Cause Heartburn
In order to steer clear of acid reflux symptoms, make sure to limit the intake of the following foods:
- Oily and greasy food
- Artificially processed snacks
- Spicy foods or peppers of any kind.
- Fast food
- Full-fat dairy products
- Foods with high-fat content, such as bacon, sausage, etc.
- Fizzy drinks
- Acidic foods like tomatoes, pineapples, oranges, salsa, pizza, etc.
- Chocolate
- Garlic
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Onion
- Mint
Foods That Help Acid Reflux Go Away
If you don’t want to constantly feel like your chest is on fire, try changing your diet. Take a look below to see what are some of the best foods to eat with acid reflux.
- Low-fat dairy
- Whole grains
- Baked food items
- Protein-packed meat like fish, tofu, chicken, lentils, eggs, etc.
- Healthy fats like nuts and olive oil
- Brown rice
- Green vegetables
- Non-citrus fruits such as apples, bananas, peaches, avocados, etc.
- Starch-based foods like potatoes
- Seafood
- Oatmeal
- Ginger
- Foods that are high in fiber
Acid Reflux Diet — Is It The Same for GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD, is a chronic medical condition that affects your gastrointestinal system. Its characteristics are the same as acid reflux; the only thing that differs is the severity of the situation. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you’re trying to curb symptoms of acid reflux or GERD. As long as you maintain a healthy diet, you can hopefully better your condition.
Moreover, paying attention to what foods neutralize stomach acid is important, as self-care is critical for those dealing with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Careful monitoring of your diet can help prevent serious repercussions. Although, rather than making modifications yourself, it is better to reach out to a medical expert for help instead.
Final Thoughts
To sum it all up, acid reflux may not be as dangerous, but frequently getting heartburn can lead to a chronic condition known as GERD. Pay close attention to what you eat on a daily basis and switch up your diet to prevent acid reflux symptoms from getting worse.
For more information, reach out to Nova Bariatrics at (469) 639-0953. You can also visit us for an in-person checkup at 1081 Kinwest Pkwy STE 110, Irving, TX 75063, United States.