In general, anything that is fatty, acidic or highly caffeinated should be avoided. The worst foods for acid reflux list includes: Coffee and tea – Caffeinated beverages aggravate acid reflux. Opt for teas without caffeine.
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.
Yogurt may help prevent complications associated with acid reflux, such as ulcers or Barrett's esophagus. This is because it helps reduce inflammation in the stomach, which can ultimately lower your risk of developing these conditions.
1. DAIRY. Milk and dairy products are high in fat and tend to make heartburn worse. When you have frequent GERD symptoms, like heartburn, eating high-fat dairy products like cheese can aggravate your symptoms.
Acid reflux can cause a burning sensation in the throat and chest. Drinking water, low fat milk, and herbal teas may help manage it. Alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and sodas may worsen symptoms, however. Acid reflux, or heartburn, occurs when stomach acid flows up into a person's esophagus, or food pipe.
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.
Bananas. This low-acid or alkaline 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.
Low in fat, egg whites are easier to digest, so they may be less likely to trigger your GERD. However, egg yolks are high in fat, so may increase your chances of getting acid reflux. If you want to include eggs in your diet, you could consider removing the yolks first.
Dairy—particularly full-fat dairy—is one of the common trigger foods that can induce acid reflux. In fact, many people try cutting dairy out of their diets altogether to help manage heartburn symptoms. With that in mind, drinking a glass of milk to sooth your heartburn is, unfortunately, a myth.
1) Skim milk
Skim milk also has a high pH level, which can neutralize stomach acid and help prevent heartburn.
It's sad but true: chocolate can increase the acid exposure to the lower end of the esophagus and induce reflux3. Milk chocolate can also be high in fat4, another reason the sweet is problematic for acid reflux sufferers.
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.
“Apples, cranberries and cardamom can help heartburn,” Grotto says. The tiny red berry and fragrant spice have antibacterial properties, which may lower your risk of stomach ulcers caused by the bacterium H. pylori, he explains. Apples are also high in pectin, a type of fiber, and the more fiber, the less reflux.
Similarly, if a person does not eat for a long period of time, acid may build up in the stomach in preparation for digesting the next meal. This may cause hunger pains and contribute to GERD symptoms such as heartburn. Learn more about foods to eat and avoid with GERD and acid reflux.
By itself or with little sauce and cheese, pasta shouldn't trigger acid reflux. However, specific ingredients and toppings can lead to heartburn in people prone to it, such as heavy tomato or cream sauces, lots of garlic and spices, and carbonara (cream, cheese, and bacon).
Saturated fats such as butter, cream and cheese, can be especially bad for acid reflux, so try to ensure that the fats you eat are healthier unsaturated ones, such as avocado or walnuts.
Honey is a well-known antioxidant and helps protect cells from free radicals. These free radicals may cause acid reflux because they can harm the lining in your esophagus, resulting in inflammation. Thus, adding some honey to warm water may reduce inflammation and soothe the burning sensation.
Drinking lemon water is a potentially helpful remedy to reduce symptoms. Always drink it diluted and pay attention to the body's reaction. Some people report that drinking lemon water can reduce their symptoms of acid reflux after a meal. For others, lemon water can make their acid reflux worse.
Does Caffeine Trigger Heartburn? Caffeine itself can also trigger heartburn. It relaxes the esophageal sphincter, which is a common cause of acid reflux. It can also increase the release of acid in your stomach, causing it to reflux back into your esophagus.