What is the description of an acid reflux diet? Not a diet to prevent reflux. No! a perfect lunch. But watch out, it just might make you suffer. You meet a long lost friend at a café. It is mid morning. You order a cappuccino. You sit and chat and before you know it, lunchtime arrives. You are feeling very healthy, so you have orange juice instead of a starter. Next up is a pizza neapolitana and over a glass of red wine, you chat. The chocolate mousse looks so appetising. You just can’t resist a little indulgence. The sun is shining and just before you head back to the office, you take a drink of sparkling water to keep you well hydrated.
Boy, are you in for a miserable afternoon. A large meal, with coffee, chocolate, orange juice, alcohol and a fizzy drink. Add to that the fat from the cheese. Now that is a meal just waiting to give you a serious bout of indigestion, or worse still, chest pain!
Next time you go out, you are a little wiser. You decide to have peppermint tea instead of coffee. You avoid the fatty food and go for a salad nicoise. You have still water instead of sparkling. For dessert, you choose the fruit salad. The fruits are fresh summer goodies like melon, grapes and strawberries.
You now know that any fruit might upset you, but because you have cut back on the really nasty things like coffee, chocolate and fizzy drinks, you are probably going to be able to indulge a little. You have a piece of meringue with those strawberries and low fat yoghurt and feel very pleased with yourself.
You also have an easy afternoon in the office and you were still able to enjoy your rendezvous with that long lost friend. No indigestion. No fatty food. A really good anti acid reflux diet!
The London Gastroenterology Centre have some recipes for great tasting food that you can eat without aggravating your symptoms:
Starter: Butternut Squash Soup - Click here to see recipe
Main Course: Mushroom Risotto - Click here to see recipe
Side: Crispy Parsnip Fries - Click here to see recipe
Dessert: Classic Cheesecake - Click here to see recipe
Additionally, see the table below for good foods to eat and food to avoid to manage your acid reflux.
Need to see a doctor? Are you worried that you need an endoscopy to assess the cause of your heartburn? Choose the specialist who is right for you here or maybe you need a specialist dietitian who can advise you on what to eat and what foods to avoid? Just phone The London Gastroenterology Centre on 020 7183 7965 and they will be delighted to help you!
Foods to avoid Good foods to eat
Coffee Weak herbal teas (too strong and they can cause stomach acid
Chocolate Fresh fruit
Fizzy drinks Still water
Spicy food Pretzels, rice cakes, bread, corn thins
Citrus Pears, bananas, apples. Some soft summer fruits, e.g. ripe melon
Tomatoes Baked potato, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, peas and green beans
Fatty foods Low fat foods such as white fish, lean meat or poultry, cottage cheese and low fat yogurt
Large meals Smaller meals, perhaps eat more often
Do not eat late at night Leave at least 2-3 hours between eating and going to bed
Alcohol Non alcoholic drinks
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