What foods cause acid reflux?

If you suffer from acid reflux and its symptoms then you most certainly know how irritating it can be, I fall into that category of people who experience this stomach acid reflux which keeps me awake at nights after indulging in my favourite dish lamb chops in a dry curry source with plenty of green chillies.

I did a bit of reading on this problem and this hub is a brief overview of what I found. Observing a diet that does not include foods that cause acid reflux can greatly reduce many of the symptoms brought on by acid reflux. Stomach acid reflux tends to worsen after meals this is why it is important to avoid eating foods that can worsen the condition.

Acid reflux, or better known as heartburn, is characterised by a considerable burning sensation in the stomach and oesophagus. What is particularly worrisome is that there is a direct connection between the types of foods we eat and the experience of acid reflux.

When we eat lots of highly acidic foods, our body starts to become accustomed to this diet. In turn, our stomachs cannot sufficiently process the acid, and this burning liquid moves back up into the throat which causes the irritating burn that one feels.

For more info on acid reflux you may wish to watch the video below which provides details on it:

There are many foods that we eat in our day-to-day rush which contribute to acid reflux, take for example – you are at work in the office coffee one after another becomes the norm with a quick run down to the canteen (if your lucky and have one at work) every other lunchtime to eat your favourite fish-n-chips with fried vegetables (trying not to forget the 5-a-day intake of vegetables even though they are fried).

This kind of diet is not conducive to a good stomach and is usually the driver to increased acid levels in the stomach resulting in acid reflux. Below I’ll list a few common foods that you should try to avoid at least until you feel that your stomach acid reflux is under control.

Hot and Spicy Foods like curries – This is an obvious one for those people who already suffer stomach acid problems, spicy foods increase the levels of acid in your stomach after eating. Avoid chilli peppers and hot/spicy sauces. That does not mean you have to totally give up on it, but try to limit the intake of spicy foods and go for a slightly “milder” version of spice curry or pizza toppings.

Remember that if you already experience acid reflux then even the mild curry can wreak havoc on heartburn. Avoid eating spicy foods late at night and if you must consume spicy foods then do it earlier in the day giving you some time to digest it before going to bed.

Eating Meat - Meat when consumed is the hardest food type for the stomach to digest. Meat that is lower in fat like fish or chicken result in less acid the stomach, whereas a thick juicy, spicy steak requires more stomach acid to digest. If you already have the acid reflux symptoms then try to limit your meat intake to few times week and make sure to chew well before swallowing.

Alcohol – the favourite drink for many people has many bad effects one of them is to increase gastric acid in your stomach, this not so good drink also dehydrates your body resulting in erratic sleep patterns.

Coffee – The favoured drink of many, especially to wake up in the mornings, the high levels of caffeine in coffee lead to an increased level of gastric acid in the stomach which cause acid reflux.

Fried foods - Foods that a fried and foods high in unsaturated fats, cause havoc on the digestive tract. These fried foods are heavy on your stomach and slow down the overall digestive process, leaving you with excess acid that can eventually move upward into the oesophagus.

In general, it is a good idea not to eat a full stomach. Chew your food thoroughly and eat smaller meals throughout the day, instead of two or three heavy meals.

Always try to avoid over-eating.

I’ll finish this hub with a saying from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).He taught his ummah something to protect them from diseases caused by eating and drinking:

“The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls, to keep him going.If he must do that (fill his stomach), then let him fill one third with food, one third with drink and one third with air. Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1381), Ibn Maajah (3349);