Pain-Free Meals for Acid Reflux Sufferers

If you suffer from heartburn and acid reflux, deciding what to eat can become pretty frustrating. When so many foods have the potential to cause discomfort, every meal can seem like a minefield, making it a challenge to plan each bite.
Dr. Bagnato can offer some useful suggestions on what foods to avoid and will discuss your options for acid reflux surgery to correct the damaged valve that is allowing the backsplash of acid into the esophagus. As you consider surgical options, learning your own personal triggers can be a big help in keeping symptoms under control.
Dietary triggers are highly personal, so the following examples below won’t be right for everyone. Be sure to follow any advice given by Dr. Bagnato and steer clear of your triggers.
If you’ve been at a loss about what to eat with acid reflux, try some of these suggestions on for size:

Breakfast

Many breakfast foods are filled with fat, which is a huge problem for reflux sufferers. Fried eggs, bacon, pancakes covered in butter and bagels slathered in cream cheese—these can cause serious heartburn, so it’s best to stick with something leaner.
Your best option may be a bowl of cereal with skim or soy milk. Cereals that are high in fiber can help you keep your digestive system on track, while many are also loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. You can also add some fresh fruit, but be sure to avoid citrus, which is a huge reflux trigger. Skip the orange juice and caffeinated drinks like coffee.

Lunch

Again, it helps to keep things low-fat. Try a sandwich on whole grain bread with a lean meat like turkey and fresh, low-acid veggies like lettuce and cucumber. You can also eat a salad with a low-fat vinaigrette dressing—just be sure to leave out the tomato. Drink water or herbal tea, as the carbonation and caffeine of soda can cause discomfort.

Dinner

Here, the way you cook your food can cause as many problems as the food itself. Grilling, microwaving, steaming and baking are often best, as frying and sautéing can add fat to your meal. Try grilled chicken breast and a baked potato topped with fat-free sour cream, or whole wheat pasta made with fresh veggies and pesto sauce instead of marinara or Alfredo.
At every meal, you’ll want to limit fat and avoid triggers, but it also helps to keep portions under control. Eating too much will put pressure on your stomach, increasing your risk of heartburn and acid reflux.