Living With Acid Reflux

Finding an appropriate food plan for an acid reflux diet can be a like finding your way through the woods on a moonless evening. It’s easy to take an incorrect turns, or to hit a dead end and more harm to yourself than good. This is because there is really no universal plan for an acid reflux diet. Each person has their own unique set of foods that either or alleviate or aggravate your condition. These same foods often affect other people completely differently. However, there are still some general considerations when designing a plan for an acid reflux diet.

Foods That May Help Relieve Acid Reflux

In general, foods that contain little or no acidity are good for acid reflux relief. This typically includes fruits and vegetables such as apples, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, peas, and green beans. These foods will help create a more healthy balance of acidity in your stomach. Also, a good and healthy balance of meats and grains can be helpful because their components aid in digestion.

Foods Might Need to be Removed From Your Diet

A hectic lifestyle means that people are always on the run. They often grab a quick bite when they can and rarely eat three healthy meals each day. This result in a diet of fast foods and unhealthy snacks that are usually full of refined sugars and low in nutrition. These foods are also bad for the digestive system. Let’s look at some of the foods that are generally best to avoid in a diet for acid reflux.

Fast Foods - the poorest choices are French fries, fried chicken, and greasy burgers.

Fruits & Vegetables – white potatoes and onions are the two biggest contributors to acid reflux and heartburn. Fruits that are highly acidic (includuing tomatoes, oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and cranberries) should be avoided as well.

Dairy - milk is an acid. Minimize the consumption of milk, sour cream, ice cream, and cottage cheese.

Drinks - coffee and tea often trigger acid reflux. Minimize the intake of alcohol. Liquors and wines are a particularly poor choice.

Desserts - Chocolate can be very upsetting to your digestive system. Chocolate cakes, cookies, brownies, etc. should be avoided.

Designing a food plan for an acid reflux diet is simply a matter of avoiding those foods that are most likely to aggravate the acid reflux.

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The best way to treat reflux symptoms is to block acid production in the stomach. In many cases, acid irritation causes the symptoms. Acid can usually be blocked by using several medications. More than half of all patients get better with acid-suppression therapy. Most physicians will treat a patient who has reflux with acid suppression for about two months before pursuing other treatment.

Surgery for acid reflux is considered when:

• Symptoms do not improve with medications
• Lifelong medication is needed
• The patient is unwilling or unable to take medication regularly
• There is severe damage to the esophagus

The goal of surgery is to repair the stomach valve that allows acid to seep into the esophagus. Certain tests are performed prior to surgery to ensure that the patient’s condition is likely to be helped by surgery.

Patients are generally evaluated using endoscopy, 24-hour pH studies, manometry or barium X-rays.

In many cases, the operation that is performed to correct gastroesophageal reflux is a procedure called fundoplication. Usually the upper portion of the stomach (the fundus) is wrapped (plicated) around the lower portion of the esophagus and is anchored below the diaphragm.

As a result:

• The physical barrier that allows for the passage of material in or out of the stomach is strengthened.
• A new flap valve is created at the entrance of the stomach.
• The wrap “inflates” as the stomach is filled; therefore, a full stomach has a tighter valve than an empty one.
• All of the factors that would normally create valve pressure (esophageal muscle, the diaphragm and abdominal pressure) are superimposed on each other for maximum effect.

The operation can be effective long term in stopping esophageal reflux and relieving symptoms.

More than 90 percent of patients who have fundoplication surgery are able to leave hospital the next day, eating a soft diet. Most people are able to return to their normal activities, work or school within one to two weeks after surgery. The satisfaction rate with this procedure is 96 percent at one year.

Fundoplication has recently undergone several improvements. Using a laparoscope and several very small incisions, the surgeon can operate without making a large incision to open the abdomen. The result of the operation is the same, but the patient is spared the long hospital stay and prolonged recovery time of open surgery. There is also less pain after the surgery and less chance of wound infection as well as smaller scars do to the smaller incisions.

Five small abdominal incisions are used for laparoscopic fundoplication. Each incision is .5 to 1 centimeter long.

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Heartburn is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In addition, voice tone changes may occur, particularly upon wakening in the morning. Hoarseness is typical and is the result of acid irritating the vocal cords. The following are GERD associated complications that are serious and require immediate medical attention:

• Esophageal stricture: A narrowing of the esophagus that makes it hard to swallow foods.
• Erosive esophagitis: Results in ulcer formation in the esophagus.
• Vomiting blood or blood in the stools: In the presence of blood, stools may look dark or tarry.
• Barrett esophagus: Caused by prolonged exposure of the esophagus to stomach acid.
• Esophageal cancer: This has become more common recently and is linked with GERD.

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Sometimes called acid regurgitation; acid reflux is a fairly common condition in which stomach acid seeps backward up into the esophagus, which results in symptoms such as a sour or bitter taste in the mouth or more commonly a burning feeling in the chest (heartburn). These symptoms often last several hours after a meal and then go away. Many people experience acid reflux from time to time, typically after eating certain foods. When acid reflux occurs more often than twice a week, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This more serious condition and when left untreated can result in problems such as esophagus inflammation (esophagitis) or a precancerous condition known as Barrett’s esophagus. GERD can also worsen chronic cough, insomnia, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis.

Heartburn is the most common symptom of acid reflux. Other symptoms include:

• Bitter or sour taste in the mouth
• Chronic dry cough
• Trouble swallowing
• Wheezing
• Hoarseness

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Antacids
Antacids, such as Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil, Rolaids and Tums, neutralize stomach acid and can provide quick relief from heartburn. However, antacids alone won’t heal an inflamed esophagus that has been damaged by stomach acid. Also, overuse of some antacids can cause side effects such as diarrhea or constipation.

H-2-receptor blockers.
Over-the-counter H-2-receptor blockers, such as Tagamet HB (cimetidine), Pepcid AC (famotidine), Axid AR (nizatidine) or Zantac 75 (ranitidine), are available at half the strength of the prescription version. These medications reduce acid production in the stomach. They provide longer relief than antacids but they don’t act as quickly. Normally, you should take one of these medications before a meal that might cause heartburn since it takes about 30 minutes for them to work. They are also effective in reducing acid reflux at night if taken before bedtime. Some H-2-receptor blockers can cause side effects which are infrequent such as dizziness, diarrhea, headache, kidney problems and temporary breast enlargement in men. Rarely, they can also react dangerously with other medications.

Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a group of prescription and over the counter medications that prevent the release of acid in the stomach and intestines. Doctors can prescribe PPIs to treat people with heartburn, ulcers of the stomach or intestine. The PPI Prilosec is available over the count in a 14 day dose package. Other common PPI medications include: Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid and Protonix. This class of medication is generally supplied in a 24 hour time released capsule or tablet.

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Although making changes in your lifestyle may not always be easy. This is often the best and most effective way to leave mild to moderate heartburn symptoms. Below are five lifestyle changes that you might be able to make to improve your symptoms.

1.When To Eat
Since reflux may occur more frequently when you are lying down, allow at least three or four, hours to pass between your evening meal and bedtime. During this time, you may drink water but nothing more. Your stomach responds when the least bit of food hits it producing a large amount of acid and digestive enzymes. By allowing several hours to pass after your evening meal, you will afford time for the stomach to empty before lay down.

2. Character of Meals
Adjust the character of your daily meal schedule. When possible, make your noon meal your heavy meal, so that you will be satisfied with a smaller and lighter evening meal. Avoid deep-fried or other fatty foods, as fat stimulates the stomach to secrete acid and digestive enzymes.

3. What To Avoid
A muscular ring known as a sphincter is located between the stomach and the esophagus. This ring is called the “lower esophageal sphincter,” or LES. Various substances are recognized to relax the LES. Caffeine, nicotine, chocolate and mint are well known to cause the LES relaxaition. Avoid these substances for at least four hours prior to bedtime. Alcoholic beverages should also be avoided during this time.

4. Lose Weight
Obesity adds to the reflux problem. Therefore If you are overweight, any weight loss will be helpful.

5. Adjust Your Bed
Elevate the head of your bed by putting heavy books or cinder blocks under the two feet at the head of your bed. The idea is to raise your esophagus and throat above the level of your stomach, to allow gravity to works in your advantage. Note that sleeping with additional pillows won’t help, since this typically tends to only flex the neck. You’d acquire nothing but a stiff neck and an uncomfortable night’s sleep for your efforts.

In summary, you will need to give up smoking, drinking, caffeine, chocolate, fatty fried foods, and lose weight. Also, it is sometimes also recommend that you not wear tight-fitting clothes. Several experts also advise avoiding acidic foods, such as orange juice or tomato sauce. However, most folks don’t consume these foods in large amounts at their evening meal. Therefore, they probably don’t cause problems in these moderate quantities.

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Certain foods and drinks may exacerbate your heartburn and acid relux symptoms. It is often best to limit or avoid those foods altogether. On the other hand, there are some foods that have little or no potential for causing heartburn.

The list of foods in the Table below are the common foods that are normally pretty safe for heartburn sufferers to consume.

For a list of foods that you possibly can to enjoy from time to time, please review the table for foods that can be eaten with Discretion. For a list of foods that should be avoided altogether, since they are commonly responsible for an increased occurrence of heartburn, please see the table for Foods To Be Avoided.

This is not a complete list, and in your own situation, you might find you can eat the foods from the “Avoid” group without any problem or you might find that you have problems with foods not listed.

One way to help determine what foods affect you would be to keep a Food Diary. For about two weeks, write down what you consume, when you eat and any symptoms you experience. This will assist you and your doctor plan your diet and determine any adjustments in eating habits you may need.

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If you suffer from frequent heartburn and are tired of using Antacids such as Tums or Rolaids, then you will be interested in the following list of old-time home remedies to help cure heartburn without side effects.

For most people, heartburn isn’t a serious problem until it is intensified by poor eating habits and lifestyle. Poor choices in foods and drink produce high levels of acid in the stomach that contribute to heartburn.

Heartburn can often be treated through diet regulation and lifestyle modification. In addition, several home remedies may also help ease heartburn. Many of the items needed to fight heartburn are available in the grocery and might already be in your kitchen. Here are several helpful items:

Almonds: Chew 6 to 8 blanched almonds to relieve heartburn. Be sure to chew them well.

Ginger Root and Ginger Tea: Chew raw ginger or drink a strong ginger tea made with honey.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey: Drink 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in the morning and 2 tablespoons of
honey every night. Usually each of these is mixed with a glass of water. This is an old time recipe for digestive health.

Raw Potato: Eat several tablespoons of raw potato at the onset of heartburn symptoms.

Baking Soda: A teaspoonful of baking soda in a cup of water to relieve symptoms.

Pineapple Juice: Drinking the juice or eating the fruit itself brings relief for some.

Papaya: Eat it papaya straight to have the immediate benefit or drink 1-cup papaya juice combined with a teaspoon sugar and 2 pinches cardamom to relieve acid.

Water: Drink water in between meals. Drinking small quantities of water at regular intervals washes the acid down into the stomach and helps sooth the burn.

When someone is suffering from heartburn, they only have one thing on their mind. That is to make the pain go away as quickly as possible! These home remedies may not work for everyone. So we recommend that you stock your kitchen with all the items mentioned above so that you can try each and find out what is effective and what is not.

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