Foods That Help Reduce Acid Reflux Root vegetables, like carrots and beets. Green vegetables, including broccoli, cucumbers or green beans. High-fiber foods, such as oatmeal and brown rice. Alkaline foods – which have a higher pH and are the opposite of acidic foods – including melons, cauliflower and bananas.
With a pH level close to neutral (5.88–6.40), carrots are among the least acidic vegetables. Whole grains like popcorn and veggies like carrots that are high in fiber help lessen the symptoms of GERD and acid reflux since they can absorb the excess acids in your stomach.
Whole grains — High fiber, whole-grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and whole grain breads help stop symptoms of acid reflux. They are a good source of fiber and may help absorb stomach acid. Lean protein — Low-fat, lean sources of protein also reduce symptoms. Good choices are chicken, seafood, tofu, and egg whites.
Good choices for vegetables include cucumbers, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, sweet peppers, fennel, celery, and lettuce. Any root vegetable like potatoes, mushrooms, turnips, and carrots will reduce symptoms since they have a low acidity.
6. Non-citrus Fruits and Vegetable Juices. Non-citrus fruits and vegetables like carrots, beetroots, watermelon, cucumber, melon, berries and apple are low in acidic content. These drinks are easy to make, so the next time you feel heartburn just get yourself a glass of one of these juicy delights!
Drinks such as ginger tea, certain fruit and vegetable juices, and plant-based milks may benefit people experiencing acid reflux and heartburn. Avoiding citrus juices, carbonated beverages, and alcohol can also help to reduce symptom frequency and severity.
Avocado: Despite being high in fat, avocados are rich in healthy fats, which can settle your stomach and prevent acid reflux symptoms. Whole Grain Rice: Whole grains are great to absorb the acids causing reflux, and rice is one of the most absorbent.
Green vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, leafy greens, peas, cucumbers, and Brussels sprouts are known to prevent and alleviate acid reflux. In addition to being very low in fat, these vegetables are also high in alkaline content. The low pH offsets the high pH of the stomach acid.
Potatoes. Potatoes — either boiled or baked and prepared without high-fat toppings — are a good option to help you prevent acid reflux. Try to stay away from french-fries and potato chips though. As good as they taste, their high fat content can cause stomach discomfort.
Antacids like Tums, Rolaids, and Maalox, provide relief for heartburn by neutralizing your stomach acid. H-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs), such as famotidine (Pepcid AC, Pepcid Oral, and Zantac 360), reduce the amount of stomach acid your body produces.
Whole grain foods like oatmeal, bread, and brown rice are healthy, hearty ways to combat occasional heartburn. These complex carbohydrates not only help absorb acid in the stomach, but they're also full of vitamins and minerals.
Foods to Eat on an Acid Reflux Diet
Noncitrus fruits: Apples, bananas, blueberries, and strawberries are safe bets. Lean chicken and meat: Order or cook it grilled instead of fried. Plain breads and cereals: Skip overly processed carbs with high-fat ingredients like muffins and croissants.
The fiber in carrots (and any high-fiber vegetables, actually) acts like a natural vacuum cleaner in your gastrointestinal tract, picking up debris as it runs through your body. Carrots can also help keep gut cells healthy, supporting a decreased risk of illness and improving your health overall.
Other items recommended for a gastritis diet include high-fibre additions such as apples, celery, berries, carrots, and beans. Low-fat meat items including fish, chicken, and turkey breast are similarly beneficial for patients.
But unfortunately for many people, the juicy red gems are among the foods to avoid with GERD. “Just like citrus fruits, tomatoes are quite acidic and can aggravate inflamed esophagus tissue,” says Kate Scarlata, RD, LDN, a dietitian practicing in Boston.
Cucumbers are an alkaline food and thus neutralize acid in the body by increasing the pH value. Also, cucumber is also one of the most calorie-free foods due to its high-water content (about 95%).
Yogurt that is not too sour is also excellent for acid reflux, because of the probiotics that help normalize bowel function. Yogurt also provides protein, and soothes stomach discomfort, often providing a cooling sensation. It is easy to choose foods by looking them up to see how acidic they are.
Foods that prevent acid reflux are high in fiber, such as oats and bran, sweet potatoes, green beans, asparagus, and broccoli. Alkaline foods such as banana, nuts, and cauliflower can also prevent acid reflux.
Adding lettuce to your diet is good for getting extra vitamins into your system but also for managing your acid reflux symptoms.
Some people with GERD find that the yolk of the egg aggravates their symptoms. The good news is that you can easily enjoy just the egg whites. To avoid butter and oil, eat just the white of a hard boiled egg. A light scramble in a little bit of butter or coconut oil is another option.
There are two types of drugs that cut down on the production of acid in the stomach: histamine antagonists (H2 antagonists or H2 blockers) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Examples of H2 blockers available over the counter include: Cimetidine (Tagamet HB) Famotidine (Pepcid AC, Zantac 360)