3 Foods that Reduce Acid Reflux: Thomas DeLauer-
Why do some people have higher levels of stomach acid? Hydrochloric acid in the stomach serves many important roles, including digestion and the prevention of bacterial growth. Just as with the rest of your body, there is a delicate balance when it comes to stomach acid. Too much acid or too little acid will cause health problems, often with similar symptoms. So what causes someone to have higher levels of stomach acid?
1. Diet – spicy and oily foods as well as large meals. Large meals cause excess pooling of stomach acid. (1)
a. Can lead to acid reflux as well as bloating
2. Stress – has been found to increase the amount of acid in the stomach (2)
a. Stress has been found to influence ulcer formation
b. Stress → excess acid → ulcer formation, however the exact reason why acid leads to ulcer formation is not fully understood
i. Likely due to mucus lining of the stomach. Stress leads to noradrenaline secretion, causing stomach lining capillaries to constrict. This shuts down mucus production and there is less mucus to protect the stomach wall
3. Lack of sleep – has been linked to increase in stomach acid (1)
4. Cancers and other health conditions (1)
Too much acid can cause indigestion and ulcers. If ulcers form, it is hard to consume fibrous foods. Fibrous foods can cause increased acid production in the stomach as foods high in fiber digest slowly, which cause extreme ulcer pain. This can lead to intolerances for fruits and vegetables, and thus difficulties in nutrition and diet. You want to be sure to fix acid levels before this occurs.
Three Foods to Eat to Lower Stomach Acid
1. Lentils
a. Low fat, high protein
i. Low levels of fat make lentils easy and fast to digest, not leading to acid build up like high fat protein sources do
2. Fresh Parsley
a. Neutralizes acid in stomach
b. Had been used since ancient times for digestive problems
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
a. While acidic, ACV helps to bring the body to a basic place when digested
Other Tips:
If you are experiencing acid reflux, consider paying attention to your diet. It could be too much or too little stomach acid, or a slew of other problems. Diet is the main cause – keep a journal of what you eat and when you experience acid reflux. Reduce or eliminate foods that cause discomfort. If you are having problems it is good to go to a doctor to have them measure the acid levels to see what changes are best to make.
References:
1. What Causes too Much Stomach Acid?
2. Life Event, Stress and Illness
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3341916/
3. Acid Reflux Diet
http://www.healthcastle.com/acid_reflux.shtml