Eating more alkaline foods is a great way to balance your diet and reduce the effects of acid reflux disease. In fact, a highly acidic diet can be the cause of many other health problems besides acid reflux disease.
A low alkaline diet makes the cells and fluids in the body too acidic. This is a major problem in many Western countries, especially North America, where normal diets high in fat and sugar can cause acidosis. Diets low in alkaline foods are also blamed as the cause of many diseases, especially rheumatic and arthritic diseases. And according to author Michal Cogan in his book New Nutrition ‘Acidosis destroys bones, because the body has to rob them of alkalizing minerals to keep the pH of the blood from falling into the acid range.’
Symptoms of Highly Acidic Diets
Common symptoms of eating an unbalanced diet that is too acidic can include; diarrhoea, water retention, migraines, fatigue, halitosis, insomnia and a burning sensation in the tongue and mouth. More serious consequences of acid reflux disease include asthma, chest pains, and even coughing up blood in the case of erosive esophagitis.
Alkaline diets have been developed to combat a wide range of health problems, including diabetes and obesity, and can help with weight loss. These alkaline food diets should also be used in conjunction with a healthy eating plan that includes smaller meals throughout the day rather than just a couple of large meals.
The correct alkaline-acid balance varies slightly from person to person and also depends on your level of activity. In general, the more active you are, the more alkaline foods you will need to eat. Generally, the ratio of acidic foods to alkaline foods should be between 2:1 and 4:1.
Alkaline foods include; almonds, coconut, buttermilk, yogurt, raisins, melon, figs, olives, bananas, chocolate, avocado, grapes, potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, lettuce, artichokes, broccoli, cucumber, and mushrooms.
High acid foods include; beans, butter, cheese, vinegar, coffee, tapioca, eggs, meats, plums, prunes, cranberries, wine, and other alcoholic beverages. Tobacco and recipes that include ash are also considered acidic.
In addition to acidic foods and alkaline foods, there are also a large number of foods with a neutral pH. These include; sugar, honey, syrup, margarine and cooking oils.
Acid reflux occurs when the sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus relaxes when it shouldn’t. This allows stomach acid to flow into the esophagus. When this acid reflux occurs frequently, it is called acid reflux disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This can eventually cause erosion or sores in the lining of the esophagus.
There are a number of different types of drugs and medications that are commonly used to combat heartburn and other symptoms of acid reflux disease, but certainly eating well and making sure you consume a diet high enough in alkaline foods is essential not only for these health problems, but for the whole body.
