Acidity is already irritating and becomes even worse when it is accompanied by acid reflux. Reflux occurs when acid contents in the stomach flow back into the inflamed esophagus. It causes nausea, heartburn and general discomfort along with pain in many parts of the body, especially when lying down after meals. If you’ve ever experienced this, you know what we’re talking about. We already know that the food we ate last is the cause of acidity that we struggle with later. If food is the culprit then food is also the solution.
We found some expert tips for dealing with acid reflux with good diet and eating habits. Dietitian Kanupreet Arora Narang shares some dos and don’ts in your diet to prevent and manage acid reflux effectively. Let’s check it out.
Also Read: 12 Amazing Home Remedies for Acidity
Here are the 6 best foods for acid reflux:
1. Buttermilk
Milk undergoes a fermentation process to turn into curd, which is used to make buttermilk. This drink contains lactic acid, which is known to reduce acid reflux. Dietitian Kanupreet shares an easy recipe to make buttermilk. Take 2 tablespoons curd, add some water to it and add salt, roasted cumin and black pepper.
2. Coconut Water
Coconut water is great for acidity as it contains electrolytes like potassium and maintains pH balance in the body. Experts recommend drinking only fresh coconut water.
3.Ginger Lemon Water
Ginger contains phenolic compounds that relieve gastrointestinal irritation and the lemon helps with its alkaline properties. Make ginger lemonade by boiling a half-inch piece of ginger in a little water. – Filter it through a sieve and add some lemon water to it. You can also add honey to it to sweeten it.
4. Cucumber Water
Cucumber cools the body and provides relief from burning sensation. Take half a glass of water, add 1 freshly chopped cucumber slice, some mint leaves and 2-3 drops of lemon water. Add salt and black pepper powder. To make cucumber water, grind it in a grinder.
5. Rosemary and Chamomile Tea
Both herbs have a soothing effect. To make this tea, first boil water in a pan. Then add chamomile tea leaves and rosemary tea leaves in equal quantity, turn off the gas, cover the pan and let it boil for a few minutes. Filter and drink hot.
6. Celery Fennel Water
Both celery and fennel are known to ease digestion and prevent problems like acidity. Boil 1/4 teaspoon celery and 1/4 teaspoon fennel in about 300 ml water. Keep in mind that boil the water thoroughly so that all the properties of the spices get absorbed in the water.
Also Read: 6 Fruits to Deal with Acid Reflux Stress
Here Are the 5 Worst Foods for Acid Reflux
Dietitian Kanupreet Arora Narang has told about some food items which are absolutely prohibited to prevent and manage acidity.
1. Tea/Coffee
The high amount of caffeine in tea and coffee makes acidity worse. Starting the day with these beverages is the worst. Experts suggest drinking lemon water in the morning instead.
2. Chocolate
First, the cocoa powder in chocolate is acidic, and second, it increases the production of serotonin in the body, which can lead to the loss of gastric contents. Therefore, if you often suffer from acid reflux then avoid this sweet.
3. Carbonated beverages
Carbonated beverages such as cold drinks and soda can unbalance intra-oesophageal pH over a period of time. Therefore, it is best to avoid it if feeling acidic.
4. Chilli and Garlic
Spicy and acidic foods like garlic cause irritation in the esophagus. If you are already suffering from acidity, it would be better to remove these from your diet.
5. Alcohol
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, excessive alcohol consumption can cause irritation and mucosal damage to the esophagus, leading to acidity in the body.
Also read: 5 ways to keep the risk of acid reflux away
Acid reflux can make you very uncomfortable. Deal with it with a good diet routine. Sit straight while eating and keep a gap of 3-4 hours between the last meal and sleep. Eat slowly and follow portion control. After every meal, walk at least 1000 steps for about 10 minutes.
