Acid Reflux Diet Treatment

Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a condition in which stomach acid and food particles back up into the esophagus and cause irritation and pain commonly known as heartburn, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is a common disorder that usually flares up after eating, and changes in the diet are often recommended to control symptoms.

Foods To Incorporate

• In addition to acid blockers or other medications, certain foods can help decrease the likelihood of acid reflux flare-ups and should be a regular part of meal planning.

  Vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, green beans and baked potatoes are good ingredients and non-acidic fruits such as bananas will not encourage flare-ups.

  A good acid reflux diet is not unlike any other healthy diet. Including lean meats such as fish and skinless chicken breast is fine, while of ground beef and steak are OK as long as it is an extra-lean version, according to AcidReluxCure.net.

  If you are a fan of dairy, try to stick to goat cheese, fat-free cream cheese and sour cream. Milk should also be limited to skim or low-fat versions.

  Alkaline foods such as vegetable broth should be used regularly in recipes, as the alkalinity will offset the acidity of the stomach that causes the problem.

Portion Sizes

• Sometimes what you eat isn't the only thing to consider. You can eat all the proper acid reflux foods you want and may still have bouts with heartburn. The reason may be portion size, according to AcidRefluxCure.net.

  While it may be your normal routine to eat two or three larger meals a day, it may not be the best thing for you. For some people, having more meals during the day that include significantly smaller portions may do the trick. In some cases, this may be the primary cause of your heartburn. You may even be able to eat what you want if you do not eat a lot at once.

Foods to Eliminate

• Looking at a list of foods that you should avoid with acid reflux disease is a lot like looking at a list you should avoid for general health. These heartburn-inducing goodies are likely to make life after meals pretty miserable, so you should avoid eating them if you can -- and if they are items you feel you can't live without, don't have them very often and never in large quantities.

  Items to avoid include fatty foods, such as fried foods and high-fat meats like sandwich meats, pork and sausage as well as whole milk. Acidic vegetables may irritate the condition as well. These include tomatoes and raw onions.

  Sodas tend to cause excessive belching and can mean more acid will end up in the esophageal area. Peppermint should also be avoided even though it can calm some digestive disorders. Peppermint actually triggers the production of additional stomach acid.

  Some people may choose not to eat garlic as it may weaken the esophageal sphincter muscle that prevents acid from reaching the upper throat, according to AcidRefluxCure.net.