What is a Bland Diet for Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is a symptom which occurs due to the backflow of acids developed in the stomach into the esophagus tube. The reason behind the cause of the symptoms could be due to an ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or other health conditions.

Neglecting the situation will irritate the lining of the esophagus and leads to heartburn. When the severity increases, there is also the chance of for the occurrence of cancer. To avoid such an instance, reducing the symptoms of acid reflux by opting for bland diet is possible.

A bland diet for acid reflux consists of food that have low acidic content and which do not aggravate the acid reflux symptoms. The benefit of choosing the bland diet is that you do not have to opt for medication. Gastroenterologists often state that it is important for a person suffering from symptoms of acid reflux to eat smaller quantities of meals more frequently than consuming a larger meal.

At the same time, it is also vital to wear loose clothing in order to avoid putting pressure on the abdomen and the lower esophageal sphincter. Another important factor to remember is to give at least three hours of a gap before heading to sleep after eating the dinner to manage acid reflux. It will not only help in completing the full digestion but also reduces the chances for the backlash of stomach acids into the esophagus.

Seafood, poultry, and meat are the focal point for any home-made dinner. While choosing the protein content, it is essential to avoid fried, heavily seasoned, and fatty foods. It is preferable to go ahead with baking meat and other poultry products along with removing the skin to reduce the intake of fat content. It will help in reduction of the accumulation of fat along with a decrease in symptoms of acid reflux.

If pork or beef is your favorite, ensure that you are choosing the leaner cuts of the meat and skipping the visible fat. As you are opting for a bland diet, eliminating fried chicken and seafood is a good choice for acid reflux. Furthermore, skip marinades, spicy foods, tomatoes, onions, vegetables and fruits consisting of citric content to reduce the irritation caused in the esophagus.

Starches are a great addition to the bland diet for acid reflux. However, it is only feasible when prepared without adding any sources or seasoning. For example, baked potatoes, plain pasta, rice, and bread fall under this category. When you add seasoning to these foods, they trigger acid reflux symptoms. Therefore, avoiding condiments as a side dish is preferable and using chicken stock is the favorite to flavor pasta, mashed potatoes, and rice.

Vegetables and fruits are healthy side dishes. As you are already considering protein and starch dish is on the menu, it is necessary to have an idea of adding fruits and vegetables that do not aggravate acid reflux. Avoiding grapefruits, oranges, and sources or juices made from these is a good way to prevent the occurrence of acid reflux.

Vegetables that add aroma to a recipe such as garlic and onions can also cause acid reflux. However, when the intake is of a particular quantity, a person may or may not feel the symptoms. Bananas, melons, apples, and pears are part of the bland diet, which helps in reducing the irritation in the stomach.

With a clear picture of bland diet, it is time for you to make changes to the food that you eat. Maintaining a diary is also helpful in noting down the triggering factors for certain foods. That will be useful in eliminating additional foods that are triggering acid reflux.