Our health depends on our daily routine. What we are consuming, what we are doing, and our habits decide whether we live a happy, healthy life or one with too many health issues occurring daily, making even the easiest daily tasks tough for us.
We know that acid reflux is a health problem that usually occurs when our diet and digestion are not good, or as Ayurveda says, it occurs when there is an imbalance in the Pitta dosha.
What is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux is a health issue in which the acid from our stomach backs up into the esophagus or the throat. In our stomachs, there is a valve known as the lower esophageal sphincter, which opens when we drink or eat and lets the food go into the stomach.
However, because of certain imbalances in our body, it can become a bit weakened over time, making it relax at inappropriate times and causing acid reflux.
This happens when our lifestyle gets a bit messy, when we don’t eat well, our sleep cycle gets disturbed, and there is little to no physical activity in our daily routine. These small habits can contribute to acid reflux.
If you want to know what usually causes acid reflux, then read more-
ADD link of causes of acid reflux
Foods to avoid in acid reflux
1. Spicy and Hot Foods
India is quite famous when it comes to its spices and chatpata food. We are so diverse that we have many food choices that can seriously compete with any country. However, the fact is that when these food items are consumed on a daily basis, they can negatively affect our health.
Many of us suffer from acid reflux because we consume too much spicy and hot food, which can aggravate Pitta and increase the sensation of stomach heat, making acid reflux worse.
And to avoid this problem, eat hot and spicy food in moderation. Once a week or once every two weeks is enough if you want to balance your health and taste together.
Vedic Suttra suggests that you avoid eating red chilli, green chilli, hot sauces, and meals that contain heavy masalas, so that they do not trigger your acid reflux.
2. Fried and Oily Foods
Again, this is a fact that we have grown as chatoras. Our meal options are filled with healthy foods, but somehow we end up eating the usual chatpata, oily, and fried foods.
For breakfast, we have parathas and chole bhature; for lunch, rajma rice and puri sabzi; and in the evening, when everyone is supposed to eat something light, we prefer deep-fried pakoras, samosas, and kachoris.
These food options are heavy for the stomach and can lead to difficulty in digestion and delayed stomach emptying.
Vedic Suttra Wellness Centre suggests that you strictly avoid oily and fried foods if you are already suffering from acid reflux, as they can make it worse and can lead to GERD.
And if you do not have acid reflux, then it is still better to keep some control now and enjoy these foods in moderation instead of making your condition worse and eventually having to avoid them completely.
3. Sour and Acidic Foods
We have studied in our schools that there are two types of foods, acidic and alkaline.
And it is quite understandable that foods that are acidic may not be good if you are suffering from acid reflux. When you are already suffering from acid reflux and your LES is already weak, then eating too much acidic food is likely to make your condition worse.
Try avoiding food options like tomatoes, pickles, vinegar, oranges, lemons, and fermented foods.
However, these food options are among the ones that we use daily in our lives, and without them, food may feel incomplete, so try consuming them in moderation.
4. Tea, Coffee and Carbonated Drinks
We know that many people do not believe it when we say that your favourite tea, coffee, and carbonated drinks are something that can increase your acid reflux.
These things aggravate the Pitta dosha and can contribute to acid reflux.
- When you consume beverages like cola drinks, soda water, sparkling water, or energy drinks, they can lead to relaxation of the LES, increase bloating, and in some people, increase acid production in the stomach. This is not ideal, as bloating increases pressure on the stomach, which can push acid upward.
- The other thing is coffee. Any type of coffee, whether it is espresso, brewed coffee, or black coffee, contains caffeine, which can stimulate acid secretion and may relax the LES in some people.
- The same goes for tea. If you consume strong black tea, masala tea, green tea, matcha, or other caffeinated teas, they may trigger or worsen your acid reflux symptoms.
Best Foods to Eat for Acid Reflux Relief
We know what you are thinking now, that Vedic Suttra has mentioned many food and drink items that were part of your daily routine, and if we avoid all these things, then what should we consume?
So, don’t worry. You will be happy to know that there are plenty of options that you can freely consume, and they are even more than the ones we told you to avoid.
- Coconut Water
- Fennel Water
- Coriander Seed Water
- Cold Milk
- Banana
- Cucumber
- Watermelon
- Oatmeal
- Bottle Gourd (Lauki)
- Moong Dal Khichdi
Final Thoughts
Acid reflux is not something that automatically creates acid in your body. It is a condition in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, and it is often influenced by our daily lifestyle and the diet we consume.
Avoiding the above-mentioned food items may make your condition much better, and we suggest that you take a proper consultation from Dr. Anu Jaiswal, our Ayurvedic expert. It is better to understand what is causing acid reflux in your case and then create a diet plan that is specially tailored for you.
