The best and worst foods for acid reflux

If you’ve ever suffered that burning sensation after eating or drinking something, you’ll know how bothersome it can be. Acid reflux, or heartburn as it’s more commonly referred, occurs when acid creeps up your oesophagus from your stomach.

So that you can avoid gripping your chest as the pain takes your breath away here is a list of foods that can help alleviate your acid reflux, as well as foods that a prone to cause it.

Foods that cause acid reflux

1. Fried and fatty foods. These cause your lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) to relax and fail to carry out its duties properly. The LES is designed to seal the bottom of the oesophagus and stop food from travelling back up after it gets to your stomach.
2. 2 per cent milk.
3. Chocolate. The naturally occurring methylxanthines act on the central nervous system and cause the smooth muscle tissue in the LES to relax.
4. Carbonate beverages. Reconsider that can of Coke. Soda and other carbonated drinks stir up serious oesophageal distress, caused by the bubbles expanding inside the stomach and placing additional pressure on your LES muscles.
5. Coffee.
6. Beer.
7. Jams and jellies. These products rank at the top of extremely acid forming foods. If you want a sweet treat on your toast in the morning, consider placing strawberries or bananas on top.
8. Tomatoes.
9. Eggs.
10. Peanut butter.

Foods that are good at alleviating acid reflux

1. Ginger. A good food to avoid aggravating your oesophagus and ginger is notorious for its anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Oatmeal. The wholegrains absorb acidity.
3. Raw spinach. In addition to filling your daily vitamin K needs, spinach is highly regarded because of its alkaline state as a raw food. Alkaline foods are good for your body because it balances the pH levels and works to neutralise the acidity.
4. Watermelon.
5. Lentils.
6. Celery. Like watermelon, celery has many alkalising effects and will also provide you with a boost of hydration.
7. Pineapple. The enzyme bromelain makes pineapple one of the best foods to eat when suffering acid reflux. It’s an anti-inflammatory agent that assists digestion and reduces the symptoms of heartburn, not to mention you’ll be boosting your metabolism by eating it.
8. Broccoli. Loaded with probiotics that make up the good bacteria your gut likes, and the probiotics work to protect the good bacteria and keep away the bad to ensure you LES isn’t irritated.
9. Licorice. Or more specifically, licorice root because it’s an effective way of reducing inflammation in your body.
10. Pawpaw.

Have you ever suffered acid reflux? How have you treated the condition in the past?