Acid Reflux

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xosarahduh
xosarahduh Posts: 24 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Anybody with bad acid reflux have any tips for eating healthy while also reducing acid reflux? I have to eat very small meals, and no acidic fruits. Other than that I'm not sure how to be full without a bad flare up lol
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  • Squeaksfriend
    Squeaksfriend Posts: 9 Member
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    I had bad, continuous acid reflux until I cut out all grain products. Within a couple of days it went completely went away and hasn't come back.
  • plantgrrl
    plantgrrl Posts: 436 Member
    edited February 2016
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    I was having issues fairly frequently, but now that I've lost 20 lbs I don't seem to have as much trouble. Be careful with things like peppermint--esp. before bedtime (peppermint ice cream, tea, etc...) it can relax the muscles that prevent reflux. Reduce fatty food intake before bed, greasy things can give you reflux--I wasn't that excited by them before, but I've cut out all white sauces (a guaranteed cause of heart burn for me) bechemel, Alfredo, hollendaise...Try to stick to smaller meals--don't eat until you feel full, just satisfied (which sounds like what you're doing). But if it's really bad you should see your dr. You may have GERD or some other stomach related issue.
  • jpaulie
    jpaulie Posts: 917 Member
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    I had it bad as in 20 times in the hospital bad thinking i had a heart attack. Took different drugs which helped a bit. Then lost 30 pounds and gone! Put 15 back on and it is back but mild. working off that 15 again now.
    So many foods can trigger it and it is different for everyone but the main ones are alcohol, spicy foods, eating late, rich foods to name a few. To me weight was the key
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,445 Member
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    Most dairy products cause reflux in my case: Most milks, pretty much all yogurts, cottage cheese and most other soft cheeses (soft young goats cheese is fine though), and lots of other things. Very specific brands of full fat milk are fine, but others again aren't. Really odd: I've lived in many different countries. All dairy in Denmark was problematic and only certain hard cheese imports were ok while I could eat and drink pretty much everything in the Middle East.

    Basically: find out what the culprit is for you and try to ignore.
  • Shells918
    Shells918 Posts: 1,070 Member
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    I second going to see a doctor. I was having such bad reflux I was waking up coughing and vomiting. I now take something every night called omeprezole that has eliminated my symptoms. Make sure you don't lie down right after you eat and try to keep yourself a bit more propped up in bed if it's worse at night.
  • xosarahduh
    xosarahduh Posts: 24 Member
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    I actually have been to the doctor, just trying to find some more natural remedies to help relieve it. Thanks for the help!
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 17,959 Member
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    I eat fairly low fat and that helps. Acidic food doesn't set me off nearly as much as higher fat foods.
  • carolyn000000
    carolyn000000 Posts: 179 Member
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    Look into the FODMAP diet. All but cured me.
  • chelseafxx
    chelseafxx Posts: 251 Member
    edited February 2016
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    1. Eliminate dairy and see if that works for you. It was KEY for me. 2. Try to drink 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar a day with water or honey. If that's too harsh for you most health food stores have an apple cider vinegar drink. The grape flavor is delicious. There's also a limeade and another flavor I can't recall now. Eliminating dairy though like I said was key for me. I don't take acid reflux pills anymore and never thought I'd be able to say that.
  • CFaulkner97
    CFaulkner97 Posts: 65 Member
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    Squeaksfriend wrote: »
    I had bad, continuous acid reflux until I cut out all grain products. Within a couple of days it went completely went away and hasn't come back.

    Same here. would drink a shake before bed and get it every time but randomly disappeared and never came back
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
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    I avoid a little, at least I don't eat these things multiple days in row...cheese, red meat, white breads (non-whole grain). They seem to move very slowly through my system so basically I just feel like everything backs up on me.

    Stress was a big factor, as well as weight and lack of fitness, that used to cause big flare ups, mostly stress with no sleep as it was worse then.

    Now I'm good if I exercise, I've lost some weight, and I'm careful not to eat the things that cause me problems on a daily basis or even 2 days in a row. No steak one day then the next with leftovers. I'll have chicken the next day then leftovers the 3rd.

    No dairy after or with dinner unless its just a bit in a coffee that will wake me up to go out. Limits on alcohol too.

    And I usually take one rolaid before bed. More if I was a bad girl. Even if I don't need it, its a bit of calcium.
  • bubbajoe1066
    bubbajoe1066 Posts: 95 Member
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    You need to figure out what triggers your reflux. Mine are sugar and carbs.My reflux was pretty bad and happening daily. i lived off of zantac and tumms.. as soon as i cut out all added sugar and most carbs the reflux vanished. Believe it or not and i don't want to open up a can of worms, Apple cider vinegar with the mother worked for me. i make a salad dressing out of it and was surprised on how well it controlled my reflux. but it has to be the raw apple cider vinegar with the residue( the mother) on the bottom of the bottle.i happen to like the taste, but you can add it to a glass of water and sip it.. recommended amount is 2 table spoons daily. maybe it will work for you
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited February 2016
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    xosarahduh wrote: »
    I actually have been to the doctor, just trying to find some more natural remedies to help relieve it. Thanks for the help!

    You're going to get different food lists from different people. It's not grains or sugar or dairy for me, it's high fat and high(er) acidic foods.

    Some will recommend fighting acid with more acid (vinegar).....it works for them.

    No night time eating for me. I raised the head of my bed. I wear looser clothes.

    Tomatoes, garlic, onions, chocolate....all in smaller portions for me. Ketchup, and barbeque sauce - OMG! horrible. I cut out all cola. Diet A&W Rootbeer is very low acid.

    Lower acid fruits that I tolerate- Gala & Fuji apples, raspberries, various melon, cherries, and bananas
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
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    TeaBea wrote: »
    xosarahduh wrote: »
    I actually have been to the doctor, just trying to find some more natural remedies to help relieve it. Thanks for the help!

    You're going to get different food lists from different people. It's not grains or sugar or dairy for me, it's high fat and high(er) acidic foods.

    Some will recommend fighting acid with more acid (vinegar).....it works for them.

    No night time eating for me. I raised the head of my bed. I wear looser clothes.

    Tomatoes, garlic, onions, chocolate....all in smaller portions for me. Ketchup, and barbeque sauce - OMG! horrible. I cut out all cola. Diet A&W Rootbeer is very low acid.

    Lower acid fruits that I tolerate- Gala & Fuji apples, raspberries, various melon, cherries, and bananas
    this is about my list. but i can eat before bed
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited February 2016
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    Wanted to add....

    Pizza - I can eat pepperoni pizza. Homemade (turkey) pepperoni & light sauce works well for me. Pizzeria pizza -I choose 1 meat, veggies and dab the heck out of it (with a paper towel). So much grease. Not completely benign, but not bad either.
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
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    I've dealt with reflux for 15+ years now. For years I tried to control it with diet, but there are just too many trigger foods for me. Don't fear medicine. Omeprazole is your friend and you can get it OTC. A pill a day and you can eat anything you want.
  • paisleyfan24
    paisleyfan24 Posts: 6 Member
    edited February 2016
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    I've had chronic gastritis/Gerd for many many years, tried several drugs, currently take Omeprazole and Zantac. I switched to being Vegetarian about 8 months ago and am Currently reading more about eating an Alkaline diet. I started drinking chamomile tea in the afternoon or evening, supposed to very healing for the gut. Trying to limit sugar, which is a big trigger for me, and less processed foods. Good luck!
  • kjm3579
    kjm3579 Posts: 3,975 Member
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    I'm also going to suggest the vinegar. I took 2 tablespoons of vinegar followed by a glass of water and symptoms went away within about 20 minutes. I did the same any time it recurred which was infrequently and have not had any real stomach issues in the past few years.
  • ClubSilencio
    ClubSilencio Posts: 2,983 Member
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    I'd check to see if you have low stomach acid. If you address that you'll fix the problem.

    If things like ACV before meals or squeezing lemon juice on your meals helps, that probably means you had low stomach acid.

    Digestive bitters can also help stimulate stomach acid. Find it at your health food store.

    OTC drugs only mask the problem and they can also deplete magnesium which can lead to symptoms much worse than acid reflux.

  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
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    I had it bad for years. was on different meds over the years for it. I was on omeprazole for a few years(until recently) and it starting making my acid reflux worse.I was having headaches,leg cramping/restless legs.muscle pain and they messed with my hormone as well as other side effects from it(its also now proven to increase dementia in patients who take it long term,they are not meant to be taken long term either) anyway. I got off of it and was fine for a few weeks. then started taking a different medicine that kinda aggravated it. I started on some generic famotidine(generic pepcid AC) and so far so good and no side effects as of yet.

    I will never take another PPI(proton pump inhibitor).too many side effects and they rob your body of a lot of key nutrients. I would see a dr because it can be ulcers,GERD, or other issues causing it, and a change of diet or weight loss may not work for some people. It hasnt for me. but yes,definitely see a Dr and maybe a specialist that can do a scope to see what causes it. Some acid reflux can cause barretts esophagus which can lead to cancer.Its best not to try and treat it yourself because you may or may not know the cause and it can mimic other health issues. Be safe and make an appointment.

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