While it is fairly common to experience acid reflux once in a while for most people, prolonged and severe symptoms may mean you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

While many OTC medicines are available to relieve reflux symptoms, you might need to consider dietary changes in the long run. Certain foods and food habits make you more prone to experiencing acid indigestion, but incorporating different foods into your meals can ensure safety from this painful experience. Which are the acid reflux foods to avoid? Knowing foods that cause acid reflux and which food to add to your acid reflux diet is best to avoid the pain. Beat the burn and improve digestion with these 5 food swaps!

1. Baked Sweet Potato Wedges Instead Of French Fries

Craving deep-fried potato snacks like fries or chips? Sadly, these are foods that cause acid reflux. Food high in trans fats or saturated fats cause your lower oesophagal sphincter (LES) to relax, and this lets more stomach acid back up into the oesophagus, causing you discomfort. This makes deep-fried potato snacks one of the acid reflux foods to avoid. Instead, switch it out with sweet potato, cut into wedges and baked to crispiness. Fatty foods also increase the time it takes for food to travel through your digestive tract.

2. Non-Citrus Fruits Instead Of Citrus Fruits

You might want to reach for the refreshing citruses in the summer’s heat, but acidic fruits like lemons, oranges, pineapples, etc., are foods that cause acid reflux. Citrus fruits are one of the acid reflux foods to avoid because they irritate your oesophagus. Why not try fruits like melons, berries, apples, or pears to improve digestion? They are easier on your stomach and just as refreshing!

3. Lean Meat And Seafood Instead Of High-Fat Meat

Feel like chomping down on some meat? If acid reflux is an issue for you, you might be surprised to know that high-fat proteins like pork, beef, and lamb are foods that cause acid reflux. Fatty cuts of meat can worsen your reflux because more acid travels back up to your oesophagus when your lower oesophagal sphincter (LES) is relaxed. Processed meat is also linked with making reflux worse, and these proteins take longer to digest as well. Chicken, turkey, and seafood that are low in fat content are much better, leaner options for you that will keep the burn at bay!

4. Herbal Tea Instead Of Soda

Cracking open a cold can of soda sounds tempting, but did you know that this popular cold beverage is one of the foods that cause acid reflux? Carbonated beverages cause transient lower oesophagal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs), which means that the muscle at the end of the oesophagus opens without swallowing. This causes burning sensations because of stomach acid reflux in the oesophagus. So add sodas to the list of acid reflux foods to avoid. Add herbal iced teas to your acid reflux diet when you feel like having a cold beverage instead! It also will help improve digestion.

We strongly recommend trying Kapiva’s Paachaka – Digestion Support Green Tea which contains 11 digestive herbs & spices that help improve digestion. It comprises high-quality, fresh, aromatic, and healthier, handpicked whole leaves from Assam. Herbs such as Triphala, Bay Leaf, Senna Leaves, Mint and others help treat digestive troubles, so you have a happy belly. Add this to your acid reflux diet.

5. Plant-Based Milk vs Dairy

Milk is high in fat, and like any food with high-fat content, it is considered among the foods that cause acid reflux. Additionally, people with lactose intolerance will find that consuming dairy will make acid reflux act up for them. So, put dairy in your acid reflux foods to avoid checklist. Making a switch to plant-based milk can help prevent this. Almond milk is a good alkaline option for neutralising stomach acid, while soy milk has a lower fat content. So add these to your acid reflux diet.

Bonus Tip: Sip On Kapiva’s Digesti Care Juice

Introducing Kapiva Digesti Care Juice, a blend of 5 potent Ayurvedic herbs which improve digestion and provide relief from acidity. No need to consume sodium-containing antacids that come with side effects anymore! Harness the power of Kapiva Digesti Care Juice – the best juice for digestion that gets to the root cause of acidity and alleviates it.