Are you feeling a hot burning sensation in your chest with a bitter taste in your mouth? Are you also feeling gassy with bloating in your stomach? It could be acid reflux, a condition where there is acid backflow from your stomach into the esophagus. The condition is also called GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), a severe form of acid reflux.

Acid reflux commonly happens when the sphincter, located below the esophagus, isn’t working properly because it’s weakened or damaged. The food or the fluid in your stomach moves up into the esophagus since the sphincter cannot close. It causes heartburn, discomfort in the stomach, and other complications. It’s important to consider foods to eat and avoid to combat this complication.

Foods to eat
Include the following foods in your diet to relieve yourself from the effects of acid reflux:

High-fiber foods
Foods rich in fiber make you full for a long time without feeling overloaded. This means you’re less likely to overeat, especially junk food that causes heartburn. Include foods like whole grains, including oatmeal and brown rice, and consume root vegetables like carrots, beetroots, and sweet potatoes. Green vegetables like broccoli, beans, and asparagus are also excellent sources of fiber.

Alkaline foods
On the lines of foods to eat and avoid for acid reflux, these types of foods have higher pH levels that indicate high acid levels. Foods like bananas, melons, nuts, fennel, and cauliflower can help offset acid reflux and prevent further complications.

Lean meats and seafood
Foods like chicken breast, fish, turkey are low in fat content, and help combat the effects of acid reflux when eaten boiled, grilled, baked, or poached.

Egg whites
Consume only the white part and avoid the yolk that can trigger acid reflux due to high-fat content. Egg whites provide nutrition for your body while it’s also easily digestible to avoid the backflow of acids into your stomach.

Foods to avoid
Avoid or significantly cut down on consuming the following foods:

High-fat foods
Fatty and fried foods are one of the worst foods for acid reflux. These foods produce excessive acids and force them back into the stomach, causing pain, discomfort, and heartburn. They also promote the build-up of toxins and worsen the condition. These foods include:

• French fries and other deep-fried items
• Full-fat dairy products, including butter, whole mile, and regular cheese
• Fatty and fried cuts of beef, pork, and lamb
• Ham fat, bacon fat, and lard
• Desserts like ice creams with thick creams and sauces
• Spicy foods like gravies and spicy sauces
• Processed foods and snacks
• Carbonated beverages
• Oily and greasy foods

Tomatoes and citrus fruits
The foods to eat and avoid for acid reflux comprise of highly acidic fruits that promote or worsen the symptoms of acid reflux. Reduce or eliminate the consumption of the following foods:

• Lemons
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Tomato
• Pineapple
• Salsa

Caffeine
Caffeine like coffee and tea significantly relax the lower esophageal sphincter, leading to the opening that pushes acid back into the esophagus. This causes the formation of acid reflux and worsens the symptoms.