Acid Stomach Diet
Written by Gloria Tsang, RD
Published in Nov 2004; updated in Sept 2006
(HealthCastle.com) Many people take over-the-counter antacids for a quick ease of acid stomach, but for most people, a proper diet is the best solution for overcoming acid stomach.
Acid Stomach Diet Myth
- Myth 1: Drink milk
A lot of people try drinking milk to ease acid stomach before sleep. But often, milk ends up causing acid stomach during sleep. To understand the whole situation, we have to realize that the problem roots from eating too much at dinner time. Eating a big meal at dinner causes excess stomach acid production. Drinking milk could be a quick fix to the acid stomach problem. Unfortunately, milk has a rebound action and would eventually encourage secretion of more stomach acid, which causes the acid stomach. To solve the problem, try adjusting your diet by eating a small meal at dinner and have a small snack such as crackers before sleep.
- Myth 2: Avoid coffee, citrus fruits and Spicy food
We have been told for years that coffee, acidic fruit as well as spicy foods can aggravate acid stomach. Therefore, we should avoid these in our daily diet in order to reduce acid stomach. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in May 2006 showed that none of these myths hold true. Researchers from the Stanford University found that the only two behavioral changes can reduce symptoms of acid stomach - eating less and elevate your head while sleeping.
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Acid Stomach Diet
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- First of all, try to eat small frequent meals instead of 3 big meals a day. Small amount of food each time would exert less workload on the stomach and therefore requires less acid secretion for digestion. Make sure to include foods that are high in complex carbohydrates in each meal. These foods, such as rice, breads and pasta, are able to tie up excess stomach acid and are often easy on the stomach.
- Avoid high-fat meals such as those from the fast food chains. High fat foods will remain in the stomach longer in which more acid is secreted to digest them.
- But remember, don't overeat! Eating too much of any foods will stimulate the stomach to secret more acids for digestion.
- Avoid or limit alcohol.
- Maintain upright position during and at least 45 mins after eating.
- Try elevating the head of bed 6 - 8 inches when lying down.
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Don't think that beverages just quickly flow through your stomach without affecting acid production. Surprisingly, a lot of beverages stimulate acid secretion such as beer, wine and pop. The worst of all is beer. It could double your stomach acid within an hour.
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