If you’ve been following our blog posts for a while, you’ll have learned that acid reflux is commonly caused by LOW stomach acid, not excess stomach acid. Yep, that’s right! Low acidity in your gut stops your lower esophageal sphincter muscle from closing tightly after you eat. Which then allows acid and food particles to travel back up into your esophagus. You can learn more about this in our post: How Betaine HCL is Kicking Acid Reflux to the Curb for Good. So you might be a little puzzled to learn that most foods in the GERD diet plan are LOW in acidity. But trust us, there’s a method in the madness!
The tricky thing about having low stomach acid is that it takes time and consistency to increase it to a level that gets the LES working optimally. If you increase it just a little, but not enough, the LES is going to remain open. And that acid is still going to make its way through.
This is why when clients starting the Reflux Inhibitor – which increases acidity over 120 days – we recommend avoiding acidic trigger foods. As the LES still isn’t functioning as it should and these foods can set off your acid reflux.
So what’s the best GERD diet?
- Lean Meats such as turkey, fish, and chicken are ideal additions to an acid reflux diet and also an excellent source of protein. Avoid frying them and go for baking, grilling, or poaching instead.
- Ginger has renowned anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it the perfect natural treatment for easing heartburn and acid reflux. It’s also high in digestive enzymes which helps to speed up digestion so food moves quickly through your system. You can add it to your meals or smoothies .Or even just chew on some dried ginger instead. If you’re more of a hot cuppa person, have some ginger tea as part of your GERD diet plan too!
- Whole Grains like oatmeal, wheat bread (although not for those with gluten sensitivity), oatmeal, and brown rice are high in fiber and have shown to reduce the risk of acid reflux. High fiber foods also tend to make you feel full faster. So there’s less chance of overeating which can set off your acid reflux.
- Root Vegetables such as mushrooms, carrots, turnips, and potatoes are low in acidity. This will help to reduce acid reflux symptoms.
- Yogurt soothes heartburn by coating the lining of the esophagus and acting as a protective buffer in your GERD diet.
Can GERD Be Cured By Diet Or Is it Forever?
GERD can’t be “cured” by this GERD diet alone but it is a great help when you’re working on resolving the root cause with our natural supplement solution. Once you have been on the Reflux Inhibitor for a few weeks, your symptoms be starting to ease as your acidity builds up to the right level. At this point, many of our clients have had success in reintroducing “trigger” foods that are high in acidity. At this point the initial problem has been resolved and the LES is functioning optimally again. So no, it’s not forever! However, for now, if you’re just starting the program or still in the process of thinking it over, it’s best to stick with foods that you know won’t trigger your acid reflux symptoms.
The Reflux Inhibitor is best used with our Acid Relief in our Heartburn Relief Kit, as this also helps to heal your esophageal and gut lining and protect it from further acid damage.
Try it today and Save 20% on your first purchase
using the coupon code Reflux20A.