 | SLIDESHOW |
| 10 Foods That Fight Heartburn | |
| There's a long list of things you may want to avoid, but oatmeal, potatoes, and other foods may help ease your reflux. |
Foods That Fight GERD
1/13
What
Is It?
When stomach acid flows
the wrong way -- back into the tube that connects your throat to your stomach
(your esophagus) -- that’s called acid reflux. If it happens often and doesn’t
get better, it’s called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Symptoms include
chest pain, a cough, and trouble swallowing, especially when you lie down.
Sometimes it can bring up bits of food or sour liquid into your mouth.
1/13
Food
Plays a Role
What you eat can have a
big effect on GERD. There’s a long list of foods that you may want to stay away
from, including chocolate, onions, acidic foods, and red meat. But other foods
may help -- or at least not make it worse.
1/13
Chicken
Breasts
Lean and packed with
protein, chicken breasts are pretty easy to digest. Just make sure to take off
the skin and bake or saute them.
1/13
Water
This is your best
beverage bet if you have acid reflux. Sugary drinks can irritate it, and
alcohol and acidic juices can, too. And carbonated drinks can add to your gas
and make you burp, which may make things worse.
1/13
Ginger
This root can help calm
an upset stomach. Try some hot ginger tea -- without the caffeine that can make
acid reflux worse. Or chew on some dried ginger -- just check the label to make
sure it doesn’t have lots of sugar. That’s something else that can irritate
reflux.
1/13
Watermelon
It’s a low-acid fruit
that won’t trigger your symptoms. And nothing beats a big wedge of ripe
watermelon on a hot summer day. Cantaloupe and honeydew are also good low-acid
choices.
1/13
Brown
Rice
Looking for a side dish
that won’t aggravate your reflux? This is a complex carbohydrate, which means
it takes longer to digest than simple carbs like white rice, pastries, or
sugary drinks -- and that's better for reflux. The extra fiber, compared with regular
rice, also helps.
1/13
Oatmeal
Breakfast is full of
land mines: Bacon, sausage, pancakes, doughnuts, and greasy hash browns all can
make things worse. Oatmeal is a better choice. It’s got plenty of fiber, will
fill you up, and is hearty enough to give you energy for hours. But watch the
extras: Cream, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit can all trigger symptoms. Go with
fresh fruit instead.
1/13
Potatoes
These root vegetables
are good, and others are, too -- carrots, turnips, and parsnips, to name a few.
They’re full of healthy complex carbs and digestible fiber. Just don’t cook
them with onions or garlic, because those can irritate your acid reflux.
1/13
Olive
Oil
Your body needs fat to
work right, but fatty foods can make GERD symptoms worse. So you’ll probably
want to stay away from things like butter or margarine. In their place, try a
healthier fat like olive oil to see what might work for you. But you’ll want to
have a light touch, because it does have fat and calories.
1/13
Lettuce
and Celery
Reflux can make you
gassy, so skip foods that can make that worse, like beans and dried fruit. Mild
veggies like lettuce and celery are healthy, low in calories, easy on your
stomach, and they won’t cause more gas.
1/13
Fennel
It has a mild licorice
flavor and is low in acid, which can help soothe the upset stomach that can be
both a cause and symptom of GERD. You can roast it and serve it as a main
course, saute it as a side dish, or slice it raw and add it to a salad.
This tool does not provide medical advice.
মন্তব্যসমূহ
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন