13 Foods That Fight Acid Reflux

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Most people experience heartburn occasionally, but if it occurs two or more times a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a term used to describe chronic heartburn. Heartburn is caused by stomach acid that backs up into the esophagus. This is called acid reflux, when the valve separating the esophagus and stomach opens at the wrong time. In everyday speech it is also called acid reflux . This valve dysfunction can be caused by certain foods (such as onions or mint), overeating, smoking and alcohol. A burning sensation in the chest and a sour taste in the mouth are the main symptoms of acid reflux. But some people can have GERD without heartburn. In these cases, symptoms such as chest pain, chronic cough, hoarseness and a feeling that something is stuck in the throat may be signs of acid reflux. Depending on the severity of symptoms, it is treated with diet and lifestyle changes, over-the-counter or home remedies, medications, and/or surgery. It is important to treat GERD because the disease can progress and over time damage the esophageal mucosa, leading to serious complications and adverse events.

Ginger

In moderation, ginger is one of the best foods for acid reflux. It has been used since ancient times as an anti-inflammatory agent and also to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Ginger root can be easily peeled, cut into slices or cubes, and grated. You can use it in cooking, add it to smoothies, drink ginger tea, or snack on ginger gummies.

Harm and risks

Nutritionists consider a balanced diet and moderate physical activity to be the most preferable way to lose weight. A set of such actions has a better effect on the body, helping to lose weight, than a one-sided diet.

So, before you go to the supermarket with a list of products with an alkaline environment and start preparing food according to new principles, you should consult your doctor. There are certain contraindications that should be identified in each specific case. An alkalizing diet should be practiced with caution by those who suffer from the following conditions:

liver failure;
pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
gastrointestinal problems.

This is not to mention the fact that indulging in a menu with a pronounced predominance of components of one type will not entail positive changes in the body.

In the stomach, when functioning properly, as a rule, only an acidic environment is observed. If you shift the acidity level in any direction, you can easily develop indigestion. In the presence of pathologically high acidity, a gastroenterologist copes well with the problem. In this case, no intervention or consumption of special dishes is required. It is recommended to follow your doctor's instructions and also seek help from qualified nutritionists to adjust the proportion of alkaline foods in your habitual shopping list.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is known to be a natural healing agent and also fights acid reflux in addition. This remedy is available as a live plant, but sometimes the leaves and liquid form of Aloe Vera are sold separately in grocery and health food stores. Aloe vera is used in formulations as a thickener or as a means to set liquids.

Signs of excess acid (acidosis)

It is recommended to think about which foods in your diet are alkaline and wisely adjust their share in the diet if conditions indicating acidification are noted. These signs include:

difficulties in the gastrointestinal tract;
dryness, flaking of the skin, tendency to form early wrinkles; m
clogged pores, inflammation, acne;
brittle nails, dullness and hair loss;
little energy - fatigue sets in quickly, going to the store or going to the gym requires significant volitional effort;
painful sensations in muscles and joints;
vulnerability to viral respiratory infections;
frequent migraines, dizziness from minor physical exertion;
neoplasms;
problems in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

You can also obtain information about the body's ACHB using litmus paper in urine or saliva. If after contact with the liquid the litmus turns green, then your health is normal. Yellow indicates that there is a high risk of developing pathologies and susceptibility to infectious diseases. If the indicator is orange or red, this means the need for urgent and radical changes and close attention to yourself. Such shades indicate the pronounced acidity of saliva.

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Fennel

Fennel (pH 6.9) Anise-flavored dill, great food for acid reflux, actually improves stomach function. This crunchy vegetable has a unique taste - a mild licorice flavor. Sliced thin (white bottom), it makes Arugula and Spinach Salad a healthy choice. It's also great for chicken dishes and appetizers, as long as you like that licorice (licorice root) flavor.

Reasons for violation

The correct balance may shift towards acidification (acidosis) or excessive alkalization (alkalosis). The most common is the first option, in which a person’s blood becomes highly acidic. This negatively affects biochemical processes, the functioning of the immune system, and the functioning of all organs.

Changes in the acid level of the blood occur due to the following factors:

Poor nutrition - predominance of flour and animal protein products in the diet, lack of proper amounts of fiber, enzymes, and vitamins. Alkaline foods are very important for the body, but in conditions of an increased pace of life, which has led to the transition to fast food and semi-finished products, healthy food is replaced by “fast” food. This contributes to the accumulation of toxins, an increase in free radicals and a decrease in the protective functions that resist their effects.
Insufficient water consumption - in this case, metabolism is disrupted and the removal of harmful elements from tissues slows down.
Significant drug load - an excess of pharmacological drugs (especially if their use is not justified) leads to the rapid accumulation of toxic components in organs and tissues, which weakens the body and leads to a decrease in pH.
A sedentary lifestyle, stress - such factors also negatively affect the acid balance, as they slow down metabolism and contribute to the occurrence of disturbances in biochemical processes.

Restoring a state favorable to health is a completely feasible task, but requires a systematic approach. It is important to understand what is considered alkaline foods and what is sour. You should also set aside time for regular training and pay close attention to the organization of your drinking regime. Also minimize situations that cause stress.

Clinic nutritionist advice

To quickly get good results and not harm yourself, it is recommended to contact the professionals of Elena Morozova’s weight loss clinic. The preparation of a menu and training plan should be carried out individually, taking into account the age and characteristics of the body. Observing changes and the body’s reaction to the updated menu by a specialist will help you achieve the best results in the shortest possible time. A reasonable approach will be rewarded with improved well-being, a surge of energy, increased endurance, and accelerated metabolism.

Stomach acidity, why it is dangerous

Increased stomach acidity leads to gastritis and stomach ulcers

Normally, due to the fundic cells localized in the gastric mucosa, a complex interconnected process occurs, which leads to the production of hydrochloric acid.

It is this chemical compound, in combination with mucus and other substances, that causes the maintenance of an adequate pH level in the stomach cavity. Normally, the gastric environment is acidic. Due to it, the following processes occur in digestion:

Breakdown of nutrients for the stepwise processes of digestive function.
Destruction of pathogenic microorganisms that can pose a great danger to surrounding people.

An imbalance in the production of hydrochloric acid can be dangerous to human health, since a violation of general hemostasis leads to changes in the internal environment and various kinds of diseases, including:

Gastritis. Focal or diffuse lesions of the gastric mucosa, in which not only the digestion process is disrupted, but also severe pain is noted. Morphologically, gastritis represents swelling of the gastric mucosa and disruption of the functioning of the glands.
Stomach ulcer. As a result of this process, an ulcerative defect is formed on the mucous membrane with a violation of the integrity of the skin. Peptic ulcer disease is a life-threatening condition, as it can be complicated by perforation with the formation of severe bleeding, peritonitis and pain.
An ulcer with high acidity can be localized not only in the stomach, but also in the duodenum.
The reflux of gastric contents is often the cause of chronic inflammatory processes in the pancreas and liver.

Some general recommendations

If you understand the principle of menu planning, you can easily create an alkaline diet menu for yourself for a week or longer.

Potatoes are also very useful for these purposes , which, not entirely deservedly, are often excluded from diets due to their high starch content. Believe me, there are many other, more harmful foods that many eat constantly and do not even realize how many harmful substances they contain. If you need to quickly achieve balance, you can include 1-2 baked or boiled jacket potatoes in your daily menu - it will not harm your figure.

Another important tip: the ratio of greens and protein dishes on one plate should be 3:1.

Diet price

The basis of the alkaline diet is plant products: vegetables and fruits. You will need to eat 500-700 g of vegetables and fruits per day. The average cost of the most affordable set of these products for a week (4-5 kg) will be about 1200-1700 rubles: peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, celery, onions, asparagus, spinach, bananas, apples, avocados, dates, kiwi, raisins , grapefruit, oranges.

In addition, the menu includes lean meat and fish: you will need to spend about 700-900 rubles a week on these products. Also, it is necessary to consume low-fat kefir, fermented baked milk, natural yoghurts and cottage cheese. To buy these products for a week, according to the menu, you will need 150-250 rubles.

Thus, on average, such a diet for 7 days will cost 2200-3800 rubles.

Scientific information

Back in 1932, scientist Otto Warburg made the discovery that cancer cells develop only in an acidic environment. A direct dependence on the growth of tumors and the degree of acidification of the body was established. As it turned out, cancer cells are able to reproduce only if the acid level is below pH 7. If this level remains at this level for a sufficiently long period of time, this can cause the onset of tumor development. As soon as the pH value increases , it is much more difficult for pathogenic cells to exist. However, traditional medicine does not share this theory and it can only be used simultaneously with all other treatment methods.

But if you want to reduce the chances of these problems occurring, doctors recommend maintaining the required acid-base balance.

And a few more words. Some methods recommend separating alkaline and acidic foods , eating only protein foods at one meal, and only alkaline foods at the other. This is the wrong approach. Proteins are absorbed and digested much better in the presence of fiber. In addition, the presence of alkalizing products neutralizes the production of acids.

Symptoms of high acidity

Heartburn is one of the symptoms of high stomach acidity

Among the main symptoms that reflect increased acidity in the stomach are:

Poor digestion of food with the formation of putrid odor from the mouth and a tendency to bloating and constipation. This is caused by food remaining in the stomach cavity for a long time, which leads to its rotting, especially for protein particles.
The appearance of nausea and vomiting that occurs after eating food.
The development of heartburn, accompanied by a burning sensation in the area of the esophagus and oral cavity; heartburn is associated with the reflux of bile into the esophagus and overlying sections, which forms the development of burns on the vulnerable mucous membrane.
Development of pain after eating food and within an hour.
The appearance of pale skin, dryness and decreased elasticity. This is due to impaired absorption of beneficial microelements and vital nutrients. The most common laboratory criterion for such manifestations is anemia.
The development of fragility and dryness of hair, hair loss, and the formation of acne. The cause of such disorders is vitamin deficiency.
Decreased immunity as a result of the formation of toxic undigested products that cause intestinal fermentation.

List of components with the highest pH values

There is not always a direct connection between the acid balance of a dish and its effect on the body. For example, significant alkalization occurs when consuming lemon. And prunes, rich in minerals and vitamins, cause an acid-forming effect. Protein and flour foods promote the formation of acid, which is necessary to process food. The opposite reaction occurs when consuming raw vegetables, fruits, root vegetables, herbs, some dairy products and vegetable oils.

If you can’t identify a pattern, it doesn’t matter, check out the list of alkaline food products in the form of a convenient table to avoid mistakes when creating a menu:

All vegetables presented in the table are alkaline, but after heat treatment they lead to slight acidification of the body. The same thing happens to fruits after adding sugar.

Comment from the clinic's nutritionist

The optimal ratio of acidic to alkaline substances is 1:3. You should not completely give up foods that cause an acid-forming effect. It is important to maintain balance, because excess alkali can also cause harm.

Recipes from the most alkaline foods

To prepare healthy, alkalizing dishes, choose the appropriate ingredients. We offer several ideas:

Soups

Okroshka with celery - chop cucumbers and radishes (200 g each), grind celery root (60 g) in a blender with almond milk (300 g) and lemon juice (20 ml). Mix all ingredients, add dill and salt.
Beetroot soup with tomatoes - chop 300 g of tomatoes and 150 g of beets along with slices of sweet pepper (150 g). Add lemon pulp, vegetable oil, 100 ml of water.

Salads

Beets (100 g), avocado and celery root (200 g each) are grated on a coarse grater, red onion (40 g) and parsley leaves are added. Season with a mixture of olive oil and lemon.
200 g of tomatoes and the same amount of cauliflower are chopped, mixed with chopped yellow pepper (50 g), grated carrots (100 g). Add more dill, season with lime juice.

Second courses

Wheat porridge with fruits and nuts - sprouted wheat (100 g) is mixed in a blender with dates and bananas (80 g of each component). Sprinkle with walnuts (30 g) and decorate with tangerine slices.
Buckwheat with vegetables - green cereal (200 g) is poured with water for 10 hours, finely chopped celery (20 g), sweet pepper (100 g), parsley (20 g), and a small clove of garlic are added. You can season with a tablespoon of lemon juice and olive oil, and add salt to taste.
Vegetable cutlets with seeds - pre-soaked flax (30 g), sprouted sunflower seeds (30 g), 150 g sweet pepper, 50 g carrots and a clove of garlic, chop until smooth, add almond flour (30 g), 20 g flaxseed oil, add salt to taste. The formed cutlets are ready to eat.

Beverages

Citrus-ginger juice is prepared from one grapefruit, orange and half a lemon. Beat with a blender with grated ginger pulp (30 g), honey (20 g) and a small amount of water.
Fruit and berry smoothie - 100 g of pineapple and the same amount of strawberries mixed with banana and coconut milk (200 g).

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For a competent diet and for quick effective results, contact Elena Morozova’s clinic. Our specialists will help you choose a rational menu and training program so that getting a beautiful figure becomes a pleasant and rewarding experience for you.

How to independently determine your pH at home

There are several ways to determine the acid-base indicator.

Using a modern portable device. Outwardly, it resembles a glucometer. After pricking your finger, the device will measure a drop of blood and show the result.
Using litmus paper, determine the pH of saliva or urine. This is a cheaper and painless method. Urine values within 6.2-6.4 are considered normal. Depending on the diet, it can show a reaction from 4.5 to 8, since all salts are excreted through the kidneys. For saliva, the data should be between 6.4 and 7.8.
In a calm state, measure your pulse and lower pressure. If the difference between the values is more than 20, then there is an imbalance. If the pressure is below the pulse, then the shift is to the acidic side. If higher, then the alkaline reaction predominates.

All measurements must be carried out several times. Another clue will be the shade of the conjunctiva of the eye. Normally, it should be scarlet, bright red. A color that is too dark indicates alkalization, while a pale color indicates acidification.