Beverages:
Beverages like fruit juices are safe, except those made from highly acidic citrus fruits; decaffeinated tea and decaffeinated coffee are allowed, and water is highly recommended. On the other hand, beverages such as regular coffee, regular tea, mint tea, orange juice, lemonade, all alcoholic drinks and carbonated drinks should be avoided.
Dairy products:
Dairy products like skim milk, yogurt, low-fat milk, fat-free sour cream, cream cheese, feta cheese, low-fat soy cheese and low-fat cottage cheese can be consumed, whereas dairy products like whole milk, chocolate, butter, ice cream, or sour cream, high-fat cheese, and full-fat dips, which are high in fat content, should be avoided as they are known to trigger acid reflux.
Vegetables:
Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, green beans and peas, root vegetables such as potatoes, or vegetables which are plain, raw, baked, and steamed can be consumed, while onions, tomatoes, and vegetables that are fried, as well as spicy vegetables, should be avoided.
Fruits:
All types of fruits which are not classified as citrus fruits can be consumed, whereas fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, and tangerines must be avoided.
Meats:
Meats like beef which are either baked, broiled, or steamed, and poultry and seafood like fish, can be consumed; but meats like hotdogs, luncheon meat, bacon, sausage, salted pork, heavily marbled beef, and fried meats should not be included in the diet.
Desserts:
Desserts which have low fat content may be consumed, but desserts that contain a lot of chocolate, cream, or ice cream should be avoided and completely eliminated from the diet.
Cereals and breads:
Breads and cereals which are low-fat and unflavored, as well as pasta, can be eaten, whereas cereals or bread which high in fat, or bread that contains milk, cream, or cheese should be avoided as they are not helpful in acid reflux.
Soups:
Soups which are free from fats, tomatoes, and onions can be consumed. On the other hand, soups that contain a lot of these ingredients should be eliminated. Clear vegetable soups are the best, because they won’t tax digestion and are rich in nutrients.
Other preventive measures
Apart from the diet, it is also necessary to follow some simple steps in order to avoid acid reflux. Immediately after eating, do not lie down as this causes the food to push back up into the esophagus. Allow food to settle first by sitting upright for a considerable length of time. Take your last meal or snack at least 2 to 3 hours before going to bed. Moreover, if you are lying down, then raise the level of the head such that it is higher than the level of the stomach. Additionally, instead of having three heavy meals a day, you can eat in smaller portions several times during the day to ensure that you are properly digesting your food.
