The Connection Between Acid Reflux Disease And Diet
There are some people who have acid reflux disease because of a defect in a small valve at the top of their stomach, which is supposed to close after you swallow in order to keep food and stomach acids in the stomach. However, for many people there is a strong connection between acid reflux disease and diet, and not just what they are eating but how much in any one sitting. The reason for this is because some foods are much more difficult for the body to break down and digest and this causes the stomach to churn out more acid when presented with these foods, and because some foods have a high acid content themselves. The connection between acid reflux disease and diet high in foods that are acidic themselves is that their acid, coupled with the acid in your stomach, is of course going to be just too much acid in your system at one time.
The good news about this connection between acid reflux disease and diet is that this means that you may be able to make certain changes in your life and your dietary habits in order to control and possibly even eliminate acid reflux. For example, red meat of any variety is one of those foods that are very difficult for your body to break down and digest. While many people hate to hear they should cut back on their beloved steaks and hamburgers, by at least cutting back some on the number of times you eat red meat you should have fewer flare-ups of acid reflux disease, and diets lower in red meat and typically healthier anyway. Also, foods that have a high acid content can be harmful to your stomach, so cutting back on citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits and tomatoes may have a good effect on your condition.
One connection between acid reflux disease and diet that many people forget is the amount of food that you eat, not just what type. When your stomach is overloaded with food it is just naturally going to produce more acid and then because your stomach is so full, it will naturally spill over and back up into your esophagus. When considering acid reflux disease and diet, you absolutely must be aware of your portion and meal sizes at any one time. Stuffing yourself at every meal is going to cause more flare-ups, but limiting your portion sizes to something more modest may help as well. If you're still hungry throughout the day, having small snacks between meals usually helps to fill you up. Many doctors report that this type of eating is healthier for you anyway, as your body has a better chance of digesting your food properly if you eat smaller meals.
For some, there may not actually be a connection between acid reflux disease and diet. They have a genetic defect in the area of the stomach or are just more prone to acid buildup.
By Bob B Taylor
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