After meals, are you left with a burning pain or discomfort in your stomach, abdomen, chest or throat? Do you feel a bitter-tasting acid at the back of your mouth? Do you experience bloating, burping, hiccups, nausea or a sore throat? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, then you’ve likely suffered from acid reflux.
When food passes through the muscle at the entrance to your stomach, it normally closes. However, if it does not close all the way or happens to open frequently, the acid your stomach creates backs up into your esophagus leading to heartburn, regurgitation and all of the symptoms discussed above. The good news is you don’t have to have surgery or take prescription medicine to stop acid reflux from inconveniencing you. You can dramatically reduce these symptoms by adhering to a special diet. Here are some foods that will cure acid reflux in no time:
1 ) Grains – Anything with low fat content is ideal, so look for multi-grain, bran, rice or white bread, rice and oatmeal cereals, corn, rice cakes, graham crackers, and unseasoned pretzels.
2 ) Vegetables – Fried veggies or those prepared in cream sauces should be avoided. Broccoli, green beans, peas, celery, fennel, cabbage, baked potato and carrots are great choices. Above all else, make sure to steer clear of acidic tomatoes!
3 ) Fruits – Take a pass on citric varieties like pineapples, oranges and grapefruits in favor of apples, berries, peaches, pears and bananas.
4 ) Dairy – Skim, low-fat or fat-free are the way to go here. When it comes to cheeses, try feta and goat cheese, or ones made from soy, rice or vegetables. You don’t necessarily have to give up eggs, but instead of frying them, eat them hard boiled or just stick to the whites as they are fat free, yet high in protein. Whole milk and chocolate are the only deal breakers in this case, as are dishes in which they’re featured.
5 ) Meat – When it comes down to it, stay away from fatty cuts and go for leaner options like turkey, steak, London broil, chicken breast or fish. That means no cold cuts, fried or seasoned meats including chicken nuggets, buffalo wings or spare ribs, marbled sirloin, sausage and bacon. Also, always go with a grilled alternative – it never fails.
6 ) Toppings – Don’t overlook the fat content in dressings, condiments and sauces. Try to limit the amount of oil you incorporate, too.
7 ) Desserts – Instead of denying yourself sweets and snacks, make smarter choices. Ices, sorbets, low-fat yogurt, fat-free cookies and pudding, and baked chips are just as satisfying as chocolates and other tasty concoctions.
8 ) Beverages – Water is always a safe bet, but try to not overindulge in caffeinated and acidic drinks.
Also, keep in mind that eating smaller meals throughout the day will give the stomach time to digest and acid levels a chance to decrease. If you eat a heavy meal late in the evening close to the time when your body will be in a reclining position, acid reflux is likely to strike. To learn more about combating the effects of acid reflux, download the Reflux Remedy Report at www.refluxremedy.com today!