Your Diet and Acid Reflux

It is a fact that there is a correlation between acid reflux and diet. The human body always strives for a state of homeostasis, or constant and consistent conditions. When homeostasis is disrupted, problems within the body begin to occur. Acid reflux is a condition of an unbalanced body that overproduces acid. Left unchecked, this can lead to acid reflux disease. While the exact cause of acid reflux is not defined, diet clearly plays a big role.

Acid reflux happens during the digestive process. The stomach, which contains the acid, churns the acid into the esophagus. The result is a burning sensation in the throat or chest area. The consumption of foods containing high amounts of acidic content will cause the stomach to process more acid than it is used to. When there is an acid surplus, it can come back up the stomach into an area known as the lower esophageal sphincter.

In order to mitigate acid overproduction, attention must be paid to acid reflux diet. An acid reflux diet that avoids certain foods can help with symptoms. In fact, acid reflux diet control might be all that is necessary in mild cases. The main thing to keep in mind is to reduce the intake of acidic foods. An acid reflux diet avoids food such as tomato-based foods (ketchup, spaghetti sauce), chili peppers, citrus fruits, fried foods, alcohol, mint, and even chocolate.

Acid reflux diet safe foods are normally lower in fat and not spicy. This can include foods such as broccoli, lettuce, egg whites, apples, bananas, and lean meat, including the more adventurous buffalo and venison. You may also indulge occasionally in treats such as low-fat cookies or baked potato chips. While embarking on an acid-reflux diet, it's a good idea to log your intake, especially in the first few weeks. Make notes about how you're feeling. You could see a pattern that links your new acid reflux diet choices with reduced instances of heartburn discomfort. You can gradually begin adding foods back into your normal diet to see which specific foods cause you the most trouble. Before embarking on an acid reflux diet, you should consult with your physician.

You can take the diet one step further. Consider the portions of your meals. If you tend to overeat, now would be a good time to exercise portion control. Eating too much has been thought to aggravate acid reflux symptoms. The surplus of food is too much for the stomach to keep up with in terms of acid processing.

Exacerbating an acid reflux condition is being overweight. Studies have shown a link between acid reflux occurrences and being overweight. Although it's not clear why this is the case, some speculate that extra weight causes extra pressure on the esophagus and stomach. The extra pressure can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to open when it should be closed, allowing acid to penetrate.