About 60 million adults report having acid reflux at least once a month. Why so many? Acid reflux can happen to anyone. There can be a variety of reasons that one may experience acid reflux, one being a reaction to eating certain types of foods.
Acid reflux is described as a condition in which food or gastric juices will actually flow back up into the esophagus, which can cause heartburn and other symptoms. Since this is such a common disorder, usually the simplest lifestyle changes can help to dissipate the symptoms. The easiest ways and first step to treating acid reflux is to eliminate reflux foods, or foods that may induce acid reflux.
Some common reflux food triggers are: alcohol, tomato based foods, citrus fruits and juices, chocolate, fried or fatty foods, and anything containing caffeine. Most of these substances cause the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) to relax, allowing gastric contents to splash back up into the esophagus. Other substances simply stay in the stomach longer because they are more difficult to digest. This can cause pressure, weakening the LES.
Alcohol, tomato-based foods, chocolate, and citrus fruits/juices all relax the LES. Most of these foods also cause increased acid production in the stomach. When you combine a relaxed LES with increased acid production, it is only natural to get acid reflux as an outcome.
Fried and fatty foods are a reflux food for a different reason. These types of foods actually slow your digestion down, meaning the food stays in your stomach longer. This food that is basically fermenting in your stomach causes added pressure on your LES, which eventually weakens it. Once it is weakened, it will allow gastric juices to flow back up into the esophagus.
Another cause for acid reflux that involves food is having large meals. When you eat a large meal, basically when you feel “stuffed,” it puts pressure on your Lower Esophageal Sphincter. This weakens the LES, causing a back-flow of gastric juices.
Lastly, another reflux foods cause is laying down too soon after eating. Experts state that you shouldn’t lay down for 2-3 hours after eating a meal. If you go to bed on a full stomach, the contents will put additional pressure on the LES, which will increase the risk for reflux.
There are many reflux foods that can lead to acid reflux. Since this is a fairly easy disorder to treat, usually the first steps are merely removing reflux food triggers from the diet. By eliminating alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, tomato based foods, citrus foods, and fried foods from your diet; you are sure to notice a change in the frequency and severity of your acid reflux.