Calming Acid Reflux

If you suffer from acid reflux, you have probably already figured out that there are some foods that make it worse. Acid reflux is very uncomfortable, causing chest pains, burning sensations that interrupt your sleep, bloating, nausea, and more. It’s caused by digestive juices washing up from the stomach and into the esophagus. Want to make it go away? The first step in managing your condition is identifying foods to avoid with acid reflux.

What to Avoid with Acid Reflux

It might make sense to think that the worst foods for acid reflux are those high in acid, or those that cause the stomach to produce excess acid. Actually, the opposite can be true. The condition is caused by low stomach acid and poor digestion, which isn’t something you can fix just by avoiding foods bad for acid reflux. Rather, you will need to look not only at food, but also at lifestyle modifications. Still, there are certain foods to avoid if you want to control acid reflux. These include:

Alcohol
Caffeine
Carbonated beverages
Fatty or fried foods
Sugar and artificial sweeteners
Processed snacks
Chocolate
Dairy products
Vegetable oils
Spicy foods
Tomatoes
Citrus
Creamy/oily salad dressings
Processed grains
Mint

Diet for Acid Reflux

Just as some foods make acid reflux worse, certain foods can help alleviate symptoms, including:

Kefir and yogurt
Bananas
Bone broth
Kombucha
Apple cider vinegar
Coconut oil
Cauliflower
Celery
Green leafy vegetables
Asparagus
Artichokes
Cucumbers
Root vegetables
Pumpkin and squash
Fatty fish
Nuts
Honey
Chicken breasts
Egg whites
Fennel
Ginger
Herbal teas
Seafood
Whole grains

Lifestyle Measures That Can Help

It’s not just what you eat, but the way you eat it that can contribute to acid reflux. Try eating slowly, being careful not to overeat, and space your meals out over the course of the day. Ask your doctor if some of your prescription medications could be worsening acid reflux, don’t smoke, and try to manage your stress. Sleep on your side, with your head elevated, and consider alternative treatments, like acupressure. Rather than simply focusing on foods to avoid, look at your lifestyle on the whole and determine what can be improved.

Advanced Functional Medicine Treats the Whole Person

At Advanced Functional Medicine, an integrated medical clinic, we exclusively practice functional medicine. A full functional medicine approach to healing uses a comprehensive diagnostic screening to get to the root of a patient’s issues. Our whole-body approach to medicine utilizes all-natural, researched-based nutritional approaches to optimize the body’s natural healing abilities, rather than just using medication to treat symptoms. Each individual receives unique and customized care, formulated based on the latest scientific resource, and we have a 96 percent success rate in patient outcomes. As a medically driven, patient-focused health clinic, we support our patients’ individual health goals, providing natural relief for symptoms of chronic factors and expert guidance about the decisions affecting a patient’s long-term health. It is our goal to help reverse chronic disease without resorting to dangerous or unnecessary drugs or surgical interventions, promoting healing from the inside out, in its truest, healthiest form. To schedule an appointment or learn more about how we can help restore your health and strengthen your body’s unique physiological functions, call 858-500-5572 or contact us through our website.