Acidity is a very common problem faced by all of us these days. The condition is triggered when there is excess secretion of stomach acids in the intestine, possibly due to consumption of spicy foods, causing heart burn and various other discomforts. There are many natural ways by which acidity can be controlled to a great extent. The most important of these is by controlling the intake of certain foods that can trigger acidity.
The foods one must avoid while suffering from acidity in order that the symptoms can be curtailed adequately are highly acidic foods, foods that are spicy, foods rich in tomato, fatty foods, fried foods, dairy products, beverages, certain oils, crunchy foods, artificial sweeteners, meat products, etc. among others. These foods can cause an acidic reaction in the body, leading to heart burn, regurgitation, chest pain, bloating, upper abdominal pain, nausea, etc. Acidity if left untreated and uncontrolled can cause severe and irreversible damage to the oesophageal wall and therefore must be taken very seriously and measures undertaken to curtail the damage.
Foods that are acidic
Highly acidic foods can aggravate acid reflux and heartburn and make matters very severe. Therefore, such foods must be avoided entirely or should not be consumed with an empty stomach in order to avoid triggering an attack. Fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, cranberries, vinegar, etc. are very acidic and must be avoided by people who suffer from acidity frequently. These foods will increase the hydrogen ions in the body fluids, thereby turning our body more acidic. It must be noted here that there are many acidic foods that are actually helpful in alkalizing our body. Lemon is an example as lemon leaves behind beneficial minerals in the body after digestion which actually helps the body to remove the hydrogen ions, thereby reducing the acidity of the body. North Americans must be particularly cautious about taking acidic foods as their diet is known to be very acidic. Instead of these fruits, you may try strawberries, bananas, mangoes, raspberries, etc.
Spicy foods that cause acidity
Foods that are very spicy can cause a lot of heartburn and acid reflux if consumed in excess. Therefore, spices like chilli powder, cloves, cinnamon powder, black pepper, mustard, nutmeg, etc. should be avoided. These spices when taken will cause the hydrogen ions to be increased and with frequent acidity, the lower part of the oesophageal sphincter will be damaged as well. Spicy food must be particularly avoided if you have GERD, heartburn, etc. They must also not be consumed before going to sleep. You can avoid the severity of acidity after consuming spicy foods by drinking a glass of cold skimmed milk after your spicy meal. Cold skimmed milk will cool the oesophageal lining and stomach walls and prevent the acidity from creeping up after a spicy meal. Skimmed milk is low in fat and hence very good for acidity related problems.
Foods that are rich in tomato content
Tomatoes are very acidic in nature, even though they are packed with the benefits of lycopene which are cancer fighting and hence very healthy. Therefore, tomatoes must be avoided in foods and salads. Tomato sauces, tomato juice, tomato soups and other tomato preparations too may cause uneasiness and severe acidity in people who are prone to the condition. However, since tomato is a wonderful and nutritious food that can add great flavor and taste to your dish, avoiding them entirely could be difficult. In such cases, tomatoes can be used after removing the skin after blanching. You may also simmer the tomatoes at medium heat to neutralize the acidity. Adding 1/4th teaspoon of baking soda to a dish of 3 big sized tomatoes too can help in neutralizing its acidity. Certain varieties of tomatoes like cherookee purple, ponderosa, Dr Walter, etc., have low acidity and hence good for people with acidity problems.
Fatty foods
Foods that are high in fat take longer time for digestion and remain in the stomach for longer time, increasing the chances of getting acidity. High fat foods like red meat, salami, steaks, etc. slows down the process of digestion and cause the stomach to bloat up and throw up the digestive juices into the oesophagus, causing heartburn and acidity. When food stays in the stomach longer, the stomach keeps producing more digestive juices for the food to get digested. Though eating high fat foods keep us full for longer time, for acidity problems, this can cause the opposite effect. Avoid high fat foods completely or limit its intake, especially before bed time as the problem can worsen as you lie flat on your back. Limiting the intake of high fat food to about 4 ounces a meal can help in reducing the production of stomach acids as well.
Avoid fried foods
Fried foods and foods that are very high in trans fat can cause a lot of discomfort and heartburn problems. Just like fatty food, these foods slow the digestion process and cause the stomach to produce more acidic juices that move up and causes burning and pain in the oesophagus and stomach region. Fried foods like French fries, processed foods, fried snacks, etc. also cause a lot of pressure inside the stomach, causing the acidic juices to be thrown up along with the foods and thereby aggravating the acidity problem. Instead, you may think of boiling, steaming, baking, etc., so that the acidity is reduced and under control. Intake of fried foods can also cause a lot of health problems in the long run and is best avoided and limited for overall health.
Dairy products
High in fat content, dairy products too cause a lot of stomach problems and acidity for people who are prone to it. Though it is said that a glass of milk after your meal can calm and sooth your stomach walls and reduce acidity, care must be taken to ensure that the milk that you use is skimmed and low fat and not high fat which can aggravate your acidity. High fat milk produces more digestive enzymes, causing the stomach acidity to shoot up uncontrollably. It is important to avoid drinking high fat milk, milk shakes, etc. in the night as it will cause bloating and acid reflux in the night, causing sleep deprivation and abdominal pain. Milk should also be avoided when your stomach is full as it can lead to regurgitation of food into the oesophagus due to the production of excess enzymes in the stomach. To control acidity, take a glass of cold and skimmed milk after food.
Beverages
Beverages such as coffee, tea, alcoholic drinks, caffeinated products, soft drinks, etc. are very bad for acidity. These beverages can cause tremendous irritation to the stomach lining and can cause an increased production of gastric juices as well, which will again lead to increased instances of oesophageal and stomach irritation and acid reflux. Beverages like alcohol and caffeinated products are again bad for acidity as they can cause dehydration in the body. Drinking alcohol today can cause dehydration in the night and this can lead to indigestion and acidity the next day, thereby adding to your woes. Avoid beverages completely, especially in the night time if you have severe acidity related problems.
Hydrogenated oils
Use of hydrogenated oils is another reason for developing acidity. Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils are packed with trans fat which destroys health in the long run. They are produced by forcing hydrogen gas into the oils with great pressure. Use of hydrogenated oils will increase the hydrogen ions in the stomach, leading to acidity. All solid oils must therefore be avoided and healthy oils like olive or canola oil added to your diet to prevent acidity and protect your overall health. Palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, etc. must be avoided or its intake must be controlled in order to prevent acidity.
Crunchy foods
Crunchy foods like baked cookies, biscuits, brownies, etc. not only irritate the stomach walls, but also increase the acidity of the stomach due to the trans fat present in these products. They also contain preservatives and other harmful chemicals that again aggravate the acidity problem. Avoid such baked and crunch foods if you have severe acidity related problem. It is best to avoid foods that are refined and enriched foods that are very acidic in nature and very unhealthy. Crunchy foods are again very bad in that they can cause digestion problems and can also lead to indigestion in some cases.
Artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are found in many baked goods, preserved and canned goods and soft drinks. These products are extremely bad for the health and also increase the production of enzymes in the body that will lead to acidity and heart burn. Most artificial sweeteners can trigger acid reflux immediately and cause a lot of heartburn and pain. Avoid processed and preserved foods when you have frequent acidity and related stomach upset. Instead, stick to fresh fruits and home made products that are less acidic and more alkaline in nature.
Meat products
Meat products are very heavy on the stomach and very difficult to digest. They cause a lot of stomach bloating and can also lead to slow digestion process and increased production of digestive enzymes in the stomach. Due to its heavy nature, meat products will lead to regurgitation and acid reflux and hence must be avoided entirely. Stick to low fat, lean meat like fish, turkey, chicken, etc. which produces less acidic juices and can be easily digested as well. Meat intake must also be limited to 2 or 3 servings a week in order to reduce acidity problems. You can also add plenty of vegetables in order to balance the effects of the meat and chew well before eating them.
