An Acid Reflux Diet that will Keep Symptoms at Bay
Heartburn is a common occurrence that will affect nearly everyone at one time or another. However, when heartburn becomes more frequent it can turn into acid reflux disease, which can become uncomfortable enough to get in the way of daily life and even cause damage to the lining of the esophagus if it is left unchecked. For some, keeping the painful symptoms at bay is as easy as developing an acid reflux diet that will eliminate heartburn triggers from the daily menu. There are a number of ways that you can create the best acid reflux diet for you by determining exactly what your heartburn triggers are.
The Typical Acid Reflux Diet
Some people will find that by eliminating the common culprits of heartburn from their food choices, they can create the most effective acid reflux diet. There are many potential heartburn triggers in the average diet, including fatty and fried foods and spicy fare. Specific foods to eliminate from an acid reflux diet are tomatoes and tomato products, chocolate, garlic, citrus fruits and onions. It is also a good idea to stay away from caffeine and alcohol, since these are know causes of heartburn as well.
You can also adjust your acid reflux diet from three large meals a day to six smaller ones. By not letting the stomach get too full, digestive acids have less of a likelihood of moving back up the digestive tract to cause heartburn symptoms. Lying down with a full stomach can also result in heartburn, so avoid eating too close to bedtime or taking a nap right after a meal.
Keeping a Heartburn Journal
For those who are having a tougher time pinpointing their heartburn triggers, it may help to keep a food journal before you determine the best acid reflux diet for you. For a couple of weeks, chart the food that you eat and the days that you experience heartburn symptoms. Through this process, you can figure out which specific foods are the culprits of your heartburn, so that you can eliminate them from your acid reflux diet. While this process may seem time consuming, it is well worth the effort if it can help you keep painful heartburn symptoms at bay.
Frequent heartburn is an uncomfortable condition that can cause damage to your esophagus over the long term if it is left unchecked. The good news for many is that by creating an acid reflux diet, you can avoid the trigger for your heartburn and keep your acid reflux under control.
