Eight Tips For A Proper Acid Reflux Diet
Before taking medication, most doctors will suggest
that the person with acid reflux disease make some changes to his/her
diet, i.e. have a proper acid reflux diet plan. It is a simple and
useful change that one can make.
An effective acid reflux diet plan includes knowing
what food to avoid, what food to eat and a good eating habits. In this
short article, we shall discuss 8 important tips that you can take away.
Avoid Large Meals
A good acid reflux diets plan always include eating several small meals
everyday
instead of three large meals as what most people do. In fact, this is a
good habit for everyone, even if you don't suffer from acid reflux
disease. This is to allow the stomach to have sufficient capacity for
proper disgestion.
Avoid Any Meal Just Before Bedtime
Eating just before bedtime, especially heavy meal, is
apt to cause reflux problems. This is because the stomach have to
produce large amounts of acid in order to digest the food. The unused
acid tend to back up into the esophagus when you lie down. Generally, a
good practice is to eat your last meal before 8pm everyday.
Remain Upright For At Least An Hour After Meals
When a person lies down, especially after a meal, gravity will speed up
the back up process of the acid in the stomach. Thus, it is better to
remain upright for at least an hour after a meal.
Lose Weight
An overweight person tend to be more vulnerable to acid reflux than
a normal weight person. If you are overweight, by reducing your weight
by as little
as 10%, you may realize that your acid reflux symptoms improve noticeably.
Avoid Fast Foods
Fast food is American's favorite, but most fast foods are rich in fat and will
cause your stomach to
produce more acid. Fast foods can also lead to weight gain, which will
increase the problem of acid reflux.
Eat Foods High In Complex Carbohydrates
While you should avoid fatty food, having food high in complex
carbohydrates is good to help you prevent acid reflux. Breads and pastas can help bind with the acid in your
stomach so there is less to reflux back into the esophagus.
Limit Or Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol will increase the secretion of acid in the stomach. It may also
suppress the contraction of esophageal sphincter. It is the
failure of the sphincter muscle to contract tightly that leads to acid reflux.
Avoid Foods That Stimulate Acid Production
Last but not least, an acid reflux diet should avoid foods that increase
the production of acid in the
stomach. These foods include coffee, spicy
foods, tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, and alcohol.
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