One acid reflux cause that is most common among acid reflux sufferers is the wrong kind of diet. This includes what you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat.

It’s important to recognize that there are certain foods that will put you at greater risk of acid reflux.

Getting to know the foods that are an acid reflux trigger for you will go a long way to controlling symptoms.

If you’re having a hard time with this, keep a food diary. Write down everything you eat and the way you felt afterward. Over time, you’ll start to see a pattern in the way some foods lead to acid reflux symptoms. You’ll also want to look for the foods that don’t tend to cause symptoms so that you can eat more of those foods in the future.

In general, there are some foods that are less likely to trigger acid reflux. These foods include vegetables such as carrots, peas, and cabbage, fruits such as apples and bananas, and lean meats such as the white meat of chicken, egg whites, lean or extra lean ground beef, fat-free dairy products, and grains such as bran and oatmeal.

Typically, anything that is high in fat, is acidic, or high in salt will be a risky food. If you’re not sure, try the “low-fat” alternative.

Other foods may or may not trigger acid reflux depend on your own personal reaction to the food, and the severity of your condition. These are foods you may be able to eat in moderation. They include fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and peaches. Vegetables include cooked onions, scallions, leeks, and sauerkraut. Meats include hot dogs, fried eggs, fried fish, and ham. Dairy products can include cheeses such as cheddar and mozzarella, yogurt, and milk.

Foods that commonly trigger symptoms in a majority of sufferers include the following and should be eaten sparingly or eliminated altogether.

Fruits in this category include oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and other high-acid fruits. Among the vegetables are raw onions and tomatoes. Meats with a high fat content should also be avoided. Other high fat and salty foods to be avoided include potato chips, brownies, ice cream, chocolate, donuts, and even creamy salad dressings. Coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, and spirits should also be eliminated from your diet whenever possible or drunk only in moderation.

You should also make sure that you eat properly as the way you eat can encourage acid reflux as much as what you eat.

Eating smaller meals more often is a great way to reduce the likelihood of suffering from acid reflux. This approach stops the stomach from being distended allowing it to cope better with the digestion process. By overstuffing your stomach you increase the length of time the food remains in the stomach, encouraging a greater production of gastric acids. Your LES (lower esophageal sphincter) is placed under pressure to ensure stomach contents remain where they should and is more likely to fail the more you eat. This all increases the risk of acid reflux.

Slouching while eating can encourage acid reflux. The best way to eat your food is to sit up straight – yet comfortably – in your chair at the dinner table. Avoid eating on the sofa in front of TV or at the computer. By having the distractions of the TV or the PC your posture will be compromised and you are less aware of the amount of food you’re eating.

When eating your meals ensure you allow sufficient time to eat. Rushing your food and swallowing half chewed mouthfuls means more work for your stomach, as your food will be arriving in large lumps. Chewing food thoroughly allows it to combine with saliva and this starts the digestion process. By taking time over your meals you give your body a chance to recognize that it’s received sufficient food and stops you overeating, reducing the possibility of how you eat being an acid reflux cause.

It is possible to prevent acid reflux symptoms with proper food selection. Heartburn is an extremely painful symptom that you may experience and you may think that your condition is a cardiovascular one. However, acid reflux is really a digestive disorder that can be treated with making some diet changes. Careful selection of the foods that are suitable for your consumption can help reduce the severity and frequency of your symptoms.

Once diagnosed with acid reflux disease otherwise known as gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), you can expect that this to be a life long condition. Many people who are afflicted with serious heartburn symptoms will need to seek treatment for their esophagus. However, future attacks may continue to damage the organ, thereby precipitating the need for further treatment. For this reason, treatment for acid reflux is usually conducted on an ongoing basis.

Acid reflux describes a condition whereby the liquid contents of the stomach are regurgitated into the esophagus. This liquid, since it has come from the stomach, contains acids that are used in digestion, even bile. When this liquid is sent back up to the esophagus, these acids, inflame, injure and damage it and thus causing several acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn.

Certain foods are more likely to trigger an acid reflux attack, while others will carry less risk. For an easier understanding, you can place all foods into three categories in accordance to their effects on your condition. They should be recorded as safe foods, moderate foods and unsafe foods.

Safe foods seldom or rarely trigger an acid reflux symptom. Such foods include fruits like apples and bananas, vegetables like cabbage, peas carrots, meat like lean ground beef, egg whites, chicken breast, dairy products such as cheese (provided that they are fat-free), and grains such as oatmeal and bran. These foods are generally low in fat and are alkaline.

Moderate foods may or may not cause symptoms. Still, it is best to consume them in moderation to prevent acid reflux. Hence, eat these foods only occasionally. Moderate foods include fruits like peaches, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Vegetables in this category include onions (cooked), garlic, scallions, sauerkraut, and leeks. Fried eggs, fried fish, hot dogs, and ham have the potential to trigger heartburn. Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese varieties such as cheddar and mozzarella should also be consumed in moderation.

Lastly, unsafe foods are those that can trigger a heartburn attack quite easily. As such, you should avoid these food items to prevent acid reflux symptoms from developing. These foods include fruits such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruits. These type of fruits are high in acidic content. Vegetables like onions (raw) are traditional culprits. Portions of meat that have high-fat content should also be avoided. Also, refrain from eating ice cream, brownies, chocolates, potato chips, doughnuts, and high-fat salad dressings. You should also consume beverages like wine, tea and coffee sparingly, if at all.