When you have acid reflux, that means you need to adjust your diet as well as possible. Because, the wrong choice of food can make stomach acid symptoms recur, such as coughing, nausea, or sore throat.
Not only choosing the type of food that is good for stomach acid disease, you also need to know what drinks are allowed and which need to be limited so that stomach acid does not rise. So, what are the good and bad drinks for stomach acid? Read on for the following reviews until it's finished!
Drinks for stomach acid that can relieve symptoms of the disease
The good news, there are several drinks for stomach acid that are safe and effective in relieving symptoms. However, you should still consult with your doctor first to confirm your health condition.
The following are various drinks for stomach acid that have been shown to reduce symptoms, including:
1. Herbal teas
If you feel that your stomach acid is rising, try to relieve the symptoms by drinking herbal tea. Herbal teas can help improve your digestive system and relieve the nausea you feel. It should be noted that you may not consume all herbal teas.
Choose caffeine-free herbal teas, such as chamomile and licorice teas. Licorice tea aka licorice root is useful for increasing the mucus layer in the esophagus so that it is protected from irritation due to stomach acid.
The way to serve it is quite easy, really. Steep one teaspoon of the herb in one cup of hot water, then let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes. For maximum results, drink as much as two to four cups of herbal tea every day while resting.
The type of herbal tea that people with acid reflux should not consume is tea made from peppermint leaves. This is because peppermint can trigger acid reflux for some people whose digestive systems tend to be sensitive. However, still consult your doctor first before you decide to drink herbal teas.
2. Low-fat or skim milk
Cow's milk is generally not recommended for people with stomach acid. This is because cow's milk is high in fat, making it harder to digest. In addition, the fat content in cow's milk can also soften the esophageal valve or sphincter and pave the way for stomach acid to rise up into the esophagus.
If you want to keep drinking milk, then choose low-fat or skim milk to make it easier to digest. That way, the esophageal valve (esophageal sphincter) will remain safe while holding stomach acid from rising.
3. Vegetable milk
Vegetable milk is a drink for stomach acid that is good for consumption. The types of vegetable milk that you can choose from include soy milk, almond milk, and cashew milk. Well, now it is up to you to choose which vegetable milk you prefer.
Almond milk, for example, contains alkaline properties that can help neutralize acid reflux and relieve symptoms. Meanwhile, reported from the Healthline page, soy milk is considered the safest drink for stomach acid.
The reason is, soy milk contains less fat than other types of milk so that it can prevent stomach acid from rising.
4. Juice
Citrus fruits such as oranges, pineapples, or apples are not recommended for people with stomach acid. The reason is, the acid content in these fruits can make stomach acid rise. However, this does not mean that you cannot eat fruit, let alone drink fruit juice.
Before juicing, choose a fruit or vegetable that is lower in acid, such as carrots, spinach, cucumber, or aloe vera. In addition, you can also make fresh drinks from fruits that are safe for acid reflux disease, such as beets, watermelon, and pears.
5. Smoothies
Smoothie is a drink for stomach acid that is good for consumption. Apart from containing more vitamins and minerals, this drink also does not make your stomach acid relapse quickly.
When making smoothies, use less acidic fruit, such as pears or watermelon. You also mix it with spinach to make it even more effective at keeping your stomach acid levels normal.
6. Water
Regularly drinking water is the simplest way to prevent stomach acid from recurring. Even so, you still need to be careful when drinking water. Most water pH tends to be neutral or reaches 7. This does not rule out that water can increase the pH level of every food you consume.
Even though you are encouraged to drink water, you still need to limit the water you drink. The reason is, drinking too much water can disrupt the mineral balance in the body and increase the likelihood of stomach acid reflux. If you are still confused about how much to drink water, ask your doctor immediately.
7. Coconut water
Coconut water is a good drink for stomach acid. Coconut water is high in potassium which is useful for maintaining the pH balance in the body. This will make your stomach acid levels easier to control and reduce the risk of acid reflux.
Drinks For Stomach Acid That Need To Be Limited
1. Juice from citrus fruits
The key to dealing with increased stomach acid is to avoid types of foods or drinks that are high in acid, such as lemons, oranges, limes, and grapes.
The reason is, the citric acid content in citrus fruits can increase the acidity of the stomach and erode the lining of the esophagus. This can trigger stomach acid to move up the throat and trigger symptoms.
2. Coffee
You may be accustomed to drinking coffee in the morning to relax your body before doing activities. However, you should avoid this drink if you have stomach acid. Why? This is because drinking too much coffee can trigger excessive stomach acid production and trigger stomach acid reflux.
Not only coffee, other caffeinated drinks like tea or soda also have a similar effect. When you drink soft drinks, the resulting bubbles will enlarge and press on the esophageal sphincter. As a result, stomach acid is pushed into the esophagus and triggers nausea and a burning sensation in your throat.
3. Alcohol
One of the drinks for stomach acid that must be avoided is alcohol. Because, alcohol can relax the esophageal sphincter and stimulate the stomach to produce more acid. Not only that, alcohol can also erode the mucosal lining of the stomach and esophagus, aggravating the symptoms of the disease.
