What Foods Help Reduce Acid Reflux?

Some of the foods that will help acid reflux are apples, pineapples, papaya, bananas, milk (cow and coconut), carrots, cabbage, aloe vera juice, apple cider vinegar, almonds, ginger, chamomile, and fennel tea.

Certain foods will have no effect on acid reflux and certain foods will help reduce it.

Here is a list of foods that can help reduce acid reflux. Some of these foods reduce the acid while others aid in digestion. 

• Apple cider vinegar: Most people recommend 2-3 spoonfuls in a glass of water. Fortunately, there are capsules and tablets available if you can’t stand the taste or smell of the vinegar.
• Papaya enzyme: This is a great aid in digestion and it comes in pills or chewable tablets. Other fruits that aid digestion are apple, banana, and pineapple.
• Aloe Vera juice: This can get rid of acid reflux and is available in pill form.
• Water and milk: These can give relief for acid reflux, either with or after a meal.
• Coconut milk (raw): Drinking this can also give relief.
• Carrots and cabbage: These help control the secretion of acid.
• Almonds: Chew a few almonds with your meal to reduce the acid. Make sure you chew them thoroughly.
• Chamomile or fennel tea: These are soothing and will give relief for acid reflux symptoms. Some people have also found peppermint tea to be helpful.
• Candied ginger: Pop in one of these when heartburn starts. You can also add ginger to tea.

Foods that  Intensify Acid Reflux

Some foods cause or intensify acid reflux. To minimize the acid reflux you should avoid these foods:

• Fruit: orange, lemon, grapefruit, cranberry, tomato
• Vegetables: mashed potatoes, French fries, raw onion
• Meat: high fat content meat or fried meat
• Dairy: sour cream, ice cream, cottage cheese
• Drinks: coffee, wine, liquor, carbonated drinks, non-herbal tea
• Fats: salad dressing
• Desserts: any with high fat content, chocolate, doughnuts, butter cookies, chips
• Spice: Avoid very spicy foods, pepper (chili and black), garlic, mustard, salsa, etc.

Tips to Reduce Acid Reflux

Sometimes it is not enough to avoid the foods that cause or intensify the acid reflux. In these cases you also need to find ways to help your stomach digest food and reduce the chance of acid reflux occurring.  Here are some tips:  

• Chew gum for 30 minutes after meals. It will neutralize acid in your body because it stimulates the production of saliva.  
• Eat small meals. Over-eating puts pressure on your abdomen.
• Avoid lying down after eating.
• Do not do a lot of lifting or bending after eating.    
• Eat your meals in a relaxing atmosphere to help reduce stress.
• Don’t wear clothes that are tight around your abdomen.
• Use an extra pillow or elevate the top of your bed when you sleep to let gravity help keep the acid where it belongs.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Most people suffer from occasional heartburn. However, if you suffer from severe heartburn, meaning it occurs more than twice a week and interferes with your life, it is called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. This is also known as acid reflux.

Acid reflux can occur at any time and can last for several minutes or a lot longer. It happens when the stomach acid flows back up into your esophagus. This irritates the lining of your esophagus which causes the burning discomfort.

This irritation and inflammation can lead to further problems, such as:

• An ulcer, which would cause pain and difficulty swallowing
• The esophagus narrows because of scar tissue, also making swallowing difficult
• Increased risk of esophageal cancer

Check out Food Allergies

A final note: Many times acid reflux is a sign of food allergies. If you are allergic to certain foods you can often be desensitized from your allergies in a matter of days if you look for a doctor (naturopath, osteopath, chiropractor, etc.) who administers natural ways of doing this. One method entails an acupuncture treatment along with avoiding the food for 25 hours.