Tired of Feeling the Burn?

Low-Acid Diet May Help By TARA PARKER-POPE S Delicious no-meat recipes for your holiday table. Stomach acid has long been blamed for acid reflux, heartburn and other ills. But now some experts are starting to think that the problems may lie not just in the acid coming up from the stomach but in the food going down. The idea has been getting a lot of attention lately, notably in popular books like Crazy Sexy Diet and The Acid Alkaline Food Guide which claim that readers can improve their health by focusing on the balance of acid and alkaline in the diet, mostly by eating more vegetables and certain fruits and fewer meats and processed foods. While the science behind such claims is not definitive, some research does suggest a benefit to low-acid eating. A handful of recent studies have shown a link between bone health and a low-acid diet, while some reports su ggest that the acidity of the Western diet increases the risk of diabetes and he art disease. This year, a small study found that restricting dietary acid could relieve reflux symptoms like coughing and hoarseness in patients who had not been helped by drug therapy, according to the journal Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21675582> In the study, 12 men and 8 women with reflux symptoms who hadnt responded to medication were put on a low-acid diet for two weeks, eliminating all foods and beverages with a pH lower than 5. The lower the pH, the higher the acidity; highly acidic foods and beverages include diet sodas (2.9 to 3.7), strawberries (3.5) and barbecue sauce (3.7). According to the study, 19 out of 20 patients improved on the low-acid diet, and 3 became completely asymptomatic. The author, Dr. Jamie Koufman, who specializes in voice disorders and laryngopharyngeal reflux (the kind associated with hoarseness), advocates a low-acid diet in her new book, Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure. Reflux drugs focus on neutralizing or reducing acid produced in the stomach. But while stomach acid is a factor, Dr. Koufman says, the real culprit for many patients is pepsin, a digestive enzyme that can exist in the esophagus. In these patients, she says, its not enough to quell the acid sloshing up from the stomach. Once you have pepsin in the tissue, acid from above is equally damaging, she said. When you drink a soda and you have chest pain, sometimes it may be because acid came from below or sometimes because acid came from above. Low-acid eating rebalances the diet: fewer high-acid foods and more high-alkaline ones. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14; distilled water has a pH of about 7 and is considered neutral, and acidity increases by 10 times with each decrease in a whole pH number. A food with a pH of 4 is 10 times as acidic as one with a pH of 5. (The pH of stomach acid is 1 to 4.)

Processed and bottled foods are particularly acidic because of federal rules requiring high acidity as a preservative, Dr. Koufman says. And she notes that the rise in consumption of such foods coincides with a staggering increase in esophageal cancer caused by chronic acid reflux. To relieve heartburn and reflux symptoms, Dr. Koufman suggests a strict two-week induction diet with nothing below pH 5 no fruit except melons and bananas, no tomatoes or onions but plenty of other vegetables, whole grains, and fish or skinless poultry. High-alkaline foods include bananas (5.6), broccoli (6.2) and oatmeal (7.2). Some foods must be eliminated for reasons other than acidity. Regardless of pH levels, high-fat meats, dairy products, caffeine, chocolate, carbonated beverages, fried foods, alcohol and mints are known to aggravate reflux symptoms. Certain other foods, including garlic, nuts, cucumbers and highly spiced dishes, may also touch off reflux in some patients. For people who dont have severe reflux, Dr. Koufman suggests a maintenance diet of foods with a pH no lower than 4, which allows items like apples, raspberries and yogurt. She notes that the diet is hardly radical, and is consistent with recommendations from various medical groups to eat a diet rich in vegetables and whole grains and to cut back on meats and fatty foods. Still, many people with a relatively healthy diet may be eating too many high-acid foods, like diet soda or citrus juice. She says that once people learn the basics of low-acid eating as well as their own trigger foods, its a relatively simple diet to follow. This is a trial-and-error process, Dr. Koufman said. Grains are good, and almost all the vegetables. It also means nothing from a bottle or can except water. And close the kitchen at 8 p.m. November 7th, 2011 7:34 pm After enduring terrible laryngitis for three months, I was finally diagnosed with reflux. I went on Jamie Koufmans "Dropping Acid" diet and took Nexium, and was speaking again within days. I couldnt believe how fast it worked. Now I just avoid the worst foods---citrus, any drinks other than water, pickled things--and Im fine. Try it for a few weeks. It may really help! November 7th, 2011 8:12 pm This is something opera singers have known for a long time. In our field, acid reflux is a rampant phenomenon, and many of my colleagues successfully manage their cases with a low acid diet. Sure beats taking Prilosec for life! November 8th, 2011 12:20 am DIet soda and fruit juice has long been known to increase your bodys glucose level, which in the long-term may lead to diabetes. Diet soda and citrous fruit juice are not only acidic, but they contain high levels of sugar that is stored in your body as fats. Food that contain trans fats should be avoided and replace these food with those rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and mackerel.

12:20 am I learned about the benefits of a low acid diet from a nutritionist a couple of years ago. I was suffering from reflux most days and taking a lot of over the counter anti acids. Within a very short period of time the reflux disappeared and I virtually never get it anymore unless I drink soda or eat a lot of sugar. November 8th, 2011 6:51 am Very helpful information provided here that readers can improve their health by focusing on the balance of acid and alkaline in the diet, mostly by eating more vegetables and certain fruits and fewer meats and processed foods. Thanks for taking time for sharing this article. I found a lot of informative stuff in your post. November 8th, 2011 6:51 am I was on Nexium and Prilosec for a long time before the side effects became unbearable. I tried diets low in acid and low in fat. I dont think acid is the key because other similar trials have shown that other restrictive diets can work as well, such as low-carbohydrate diets I did a low-carbohydrate high-fat high-acid diet and got rid of my GERD and got off PPIs four years ago. I think not eating processed food helped, but I also think that wheat was one of the main culprits because Ive tried a lot of other diets and as long as I stay away from wheat I dont have GERD. November 8th, 2011 6:51 am Until sufferers have tried the water cure advocated in the book, "Your Bodys Many Cries for Water" (sorry I dont remember his name), they attempt low acid foods or the "little purple" pill or other acid lowering medications. Our bodies need the acid to digest meat to breakout V12 and other nutrients. Read the book and find out how off the wall modern medical science sometimes gets. November 8th, 2011 6:51 am Two years ago I was the poster child, actually poster middle aged woman, for debilitating acid reflux, esophagitis, gastritis and hiatal hernia, but until I was diagnosed with these conditions, I erroneously assumed that my endless coughing, hoarseness, hiccupping, and the blast furnace rising out of my guts into my throat often accompanied by vomiting was an allergic reaction to tree pollen. My boss and colleagues could no longer stand to hear my constant coughing so they organized a medical intervention where my superior ordered me to quit the denial, accept that I was well over 40, but still somewhat under death, and see a doctor. Due to the severity of my symptoms, for a while I was on medication, but my gastroenterologist encouraged me to eat a low acid diet. Since I am Italian, I thought my life would be ruined without ever eating Bolognese sauce again, but I must admit, eliminating tomato, citrus, and other acidic foods has immensely improved my quality of life, the coughing, burning, and vomiting are all history. Ive been off the meds for over a year now, and when I crave a fix of something Italian, I watch a Fellini film.

November 8th, 2011 6:51 am Sometimes the obvious is true. In this case, avoiding acidic food or bevarages (especially before bedtime) is both obvious and true. No extra hot salsa! November 8th, 2011 6:51 am This has always seemed quite obvious to me. We see commercials for anti-acid drugs on tv, with a man who hurriedly ponders when he needs to take his many antacid pills based on what food he eats and when. The solution proposed is to take the long-duration antacid being advertised instead, and eat whatever you want whenever you want. This has a strange and false logic to the problem of painful acid burns. If your body is causing you pain when you eat a certain type of food, it is telling you to stop eating it. Dont pop a pill in preparation for spicy wings night. Stop going to spicy wings night. November 8th, 2011 6:51 am I have managed my reflux by eating biggest meal in the middle of the day and I can eat spicy, tomato-y, but not oily or buttery. I cook from scratch, and use fresh ingredients only. I have trouble with fast food, processed food, or commercially prepared food so I avoid that. I eat mostly chicken and fish if I eat meat at all. I seldom eat red meat or pork which seems to sit too long in my gut. Tho I can eat those in small amounts early in the day.I now focus on vegetables and fruit for at least half the content at every meal. Smallest meal of the day is the evening meal. I have abandoned Nexium which study in Denmark indicated it perpetuated acid reflux in non-reflux control group. I take tums at night if needed. Small amounts of food throughout the day work best for me. this has been my routine for several years. Slow but steady weight loss has been the bonus. New Jersey November 8th, 2011 6:51 am I begin a low-acid diet about a year ago after beng diagnosed with chronic esophogitis. By slowly eliminating meats, dairy and most processed food from my diet I was able to eliminate my discomfort and pain without the addition of any drug. There are certain fruits, vegetables and drinks (coffee which is a tough one to give up) to avoid which may differ depending on your body constitution. Eating out too often can also be a culprit. Im a firm believer that this condition can be controlled through diet for most people without even the occasional little pill. Cherry Hill, NJ November 8th, 2011 8:33 am Nexium type of drugs have been reported to lower calcium absorption and studies have shown it increases fractures. They arent intended to be taken indefinitely. This information has been reported in medical

journals but underpublicized. The idea that certain types of food can cause heartburn? What a concept, a concept that is simple common sense. November 8th, 2011 8:33 am A these posts indicate, every person responds differently to various foods etc. I had occasional heartburn etc, would take a zantac now and then. No big deal. Then one day I noticed a sticking in my throat when I swallowed, went to a GI and found I have barretts esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition caused by GERD. The dr was surprised I hadnt noticed sooner. My Dad suffered with it and the dr said there may be a genetic component. I have an annual endoscopy and will be on Nexium (after trying 4 other PPIs) for life. I have changed my eating habits and also elevate the head of my bed 6 inches with risers. Life is about giving up things you enjoy and next for me will be my Diet Coke at dinner. europe November 8th, 2011 8:33 am the idea of eating more fruit, veg and wholegrain is obviously a good one, in fact, a no-brainer. the whole acid-alkaline diet concept is plain quackery and i cant believe the NY times is giving it a voice. November 8th, 2011 8:33 am Giving up acid did not help me, finding out I was allergic to Nightshades (eggplant, tomato, pepper, potato) and soy made the difference. November 8th, 2011 10:10 am This article seems to imply that people you get heartburn occasionally might be helped by a low-acid diet. This idea is not supported by science. A study done on 20 people suffering from acid reflux disease, a complex and vexing problem, says nothing to the rest of the human population about diet, regardless of its findings. For the vsat majority of us, eating a well balanced diet that includes many and varied fruits and vegetables is the distilled recommendation of thousands of well-designed studies done over the last fifty years. Id stick with that.