Avocados go down easy in more ways than one: These low-acidic fruits (yes, they are actually fruit) are smooth and creamy, making for an easy passage down your esophagus—important for people with acid reflux who often experience inflammation or irritation of their esophageal lining.
Avocado: Despite being high in fat, avocados are rich in healthy fats, which can settle your stomach and prevent acid reflux symptoms.
Avocados are a highly alkaline and nutritious fruit that host an array of health benefits. While it may get a bad rap for its fat content, it's actually a great source of monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid which has been linked to reduced inflammation, heart disease, and cancer prevention.
Melons – Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew are all low-acid fruits that are among the best foods for acid reflux.
There are different types of blueberries, and the pH level also varies. However, the scale usually falls between 3.11 and 3.35. As a result, these fruits are classified as acidic.
The most acidic fruits are lemons, limes, plums, grapes, grapefruits and blueberries. Pineapples, oranges, peaches and tomatoes are also high in acid. It would be a mistake to remove these from our diet – after all, they are really nutritious and our body needs them.
Citrus Fruits
Contrary to the belief that citrus fruits are highly acidic and would have an acidic effect on the body, they are the best source of alkaline foods. Lemon, lime and oranges are loaded with Vitamin C and are known to help in detoxifying the system, including providing relief from acidity and heart burn.
While whole eggs are relatively pH neutral, egg white is one of the few food products that is naturally alkaline, with an initial pH value that can be as low as 7.6 at time of lay, but with increasing alkalinity as the egg ages, and can reach pH of 9.2.
Avocado is a superfood packed with fiber and essential nutrients, such as potassium, which helps promote healthy digestive function. It's also a low-fructose food, so it's less likely to cause gas.
Acidic: meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, grains, alcohol. Neutral: natural fats, starches, and sugars. Alkaline: fruits, nuts, legumes, and vegetables.
Yogurt and buttermilk are alkaline-forming foods despite having low pH levels between 4.4 and 4.8.
Milk and other dairy foods are not acid producing and do not make the body acidic. Systemic or blood pH is not influenced by diet. Milk, cheese and yoghurt are the richest sources of calcium in the Australian diet while also supplying phosphorus, protein and other bone building nutrients.
Most fruits and just about all vegetables are alkaline-forming. A few exceptions are cranberries and blueberries, which are somewhat acid-forming.
Cauliflower and Broccoli. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts are a great way to work more alkaline foods into your diet. They are known to help balance pH in the system, and are nutrient-rich, too, with loads of vitamins A, C, and K.
2. Bananas. This low-acid fruit can help neutralize stomach acid by coating an irritated esophageal lining. And not only are bananas alkaline, they're also rich in pectin — a soluble fiber that helps keeps food flowing nicely through the digestive tract.
Kiwifruit have known positive effects on digestion. During clinical intervention trials using kiwifruit to improve constipation, upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as abdominal discomfort and pain, indigestion, and reflux were also alleviated.
Cons. Green apples are more acidic. This may cause an increase in your acid reflux symptoms. Conventional apple skins may carry trace amounts of pesticides.
Foods to Eat on an Acid Reflux Diet
Noncitrus fruits: Apples, bananas, blueberries, and strawberries are safe bets.
Skinless chicken makes a great low-acid diet staple.
Eggs are on the top in the list of foods causing most allergies. This means that many people can be allergic to eggs, thus causing acidity as a side effect. For people with extreme gastric issues, it is recommended to stick to egg whites and skip the yolks.
Red meat and processed meat are the most common acidic foods in the Western diet. Red meat is high in protein and phosphorus, thus increasing the amount of acid in the diet. In addition, other animal proteins such as chicken and eggs also contribute to increasing the amount of acid in the daily diet.
Sourdough makes bread acidic. If you taste a sourdough and baker's yeast bread side by side, it's very easy to distinguish them based on their level of acidity. Sourdough bread typically has a pH-value between 3.8-4.6 while Baker's yeast bread has a pH value between 5.3-5.8. A neutral pH would be 7.