Hyperacidity Diet

A balanced diet is one of the main drivers for staying healthy and feeling well. Nowadays, more and more people are looking for a healthy way of life in order to avoid various illnesses. But what should people do if they already suffer from a disease? Such issues need a responsible approach which includes following recommendations, taking prescribed medications, and observing a certain diet and day regimen.

A hyperacidity diet is a regime which was created for people with digestive system disorders. So who should follow it? And what food can they eat?

When is a hyperacidity diet prescribed?

Acidity levels helps to indicate if the stomach is healthy or not. If the ratio is higher or lower than normal, it means that people have acidity issues. Stomach juice helps with the digestion of food, and its secretion has three stages:

• Stage 1 – when you visualize or smell food, it influences your central nervous system which sends signals to nerve cells in the gastric mucosa
• Stage 2 – when food enters the stomach, the hormone gastrin is produced. This stimulates the secretion of gastric acid which helps with digestion
• Stage 3 – the final period of digestion when food is transferred to the duodenum.

When the secretion of gastric acid exceeds the norm, it generates  somatostatin (a chain of protein building blocks). This stops gastric secretion, however, this process is sometimes irregular.If stomach juice contains gastric acid which exceeds 0.5%, it destroys the stomach, provokes inflammation, and causes gastritis and ulcers.

Such states need to be regulated, and special diets and certain restrictions must be put into place, otherwise, this scenario can result in chronic disease. Even if treatment proved to be successful, hyperacidity may return later. As this disorder concerns the digestive system, it involves special diet to make the therapy work. In the case of hyperacidity, changing one’s diet is just a part of the treatment.

People who suffer from the exacerbation of gastritis or ulcers, complain of:

• sharp abdominal pain
• feeling of heaviness after eating
• belching which tastes bitter or sour
• bloating and gases
• heartburn
• constipation
• partial loss of taste

Usually, such a state is caused by:

• junk and fast food
• canned and pickled products
• fried and greasy meals
• carbonated and alcoholic beverages
• products which provoke fermentation in the bowels

In order to improve the situation, one should exclude certain foods and drinks from one’s diet, and if possible, eat 5 times per day. The latter is not always possible for those who have a busy daily schedule.

Foods that can be eaten by people with hyperacidity

One does not have to be an expert to realize what is good and bad to eat,  and what we can only have on special occasions, or on a very hectic day. The problem is that dietary food does not seems too attractive; fast food is more delicious and does not require time for cooking. Something fried and crispy tastes far better than something that has been steamed, even though it is healthier.

Some people will become exacerbated when they understand that they have to switch to a healthy diet. Their new regime must be tailor made for them, and take into account their personal gastroenterological tests, and other directives from the doctor.

Recommended meals for people with hyperacidity issues have to follow certain rules, yet the products they include are readily available.

• cereals (rice, oats, semolina, pearl barley): consumed regularly every day, they coat the gastric mucosa
• bread and bakery products should be avoided. If the diet is not strict, dry toasts and stale bread (except rye bread), are permitted
• low-fat soups (poultry or rabbit meat with the above-mentioned cereals, oat soups, cream soups. Rich broths should be avoided (including vegetable and mushroom broths)
• steamed meat and fish should be consumed daily. This is preferable to eating mincemeat (cutlets, meatballs,etc,)
• mashed vegetables are recommended as garnish, and can be boiled, steamed, stewed, and baked
• eggs – boiled or baked in the oven, but not fried
• dairy and sour milk products, low-fat cottage cheese – not more than three times per week
• any drinks should be warm, not hot. Beneficial mineral waters should be taken half an hour before meals, and be the required temperature

People who need a hyperacidity diet should take into account how nutrients influence digestion:

• proteins normalize acidity
• fat does not influence acidity much, however, such food is processed in the stomach for a longer time, and this should be avoided;
• salts and carbohydrates should be restricted

What products should be eaten on a hyperacidity diet?

The number of meals on a hyperacidity diet should range from 5-6, or at least 4 times per day.

Have warm food which is neither not hot or too cold.

It is better to restrain from drinking for 1-1.5 hours after meals. If you are very thirsty, just have several sips of fresh water.

An average menu for those with hyperacidity

On the face of things, it may appear that a hyperacidity diet lacks variety, and is restricted, and therefore, boring. It is certainly different from what people are used to. The approach to eating must be changed (meals should be taken 5-6 times per day, not omitting breakfasts or dinners. And food should be chewed slowly and thoroughly. This implies some new techniques which you probably have not practiced yet, and still have to learn (soufflés and steamed dishes, are a good example!). Hot and spicy sources and pickles are not allowed. It is not easy, but you will feel the benefits when you enjoy easy digestion, get rid of heartburn, and say goodbye to abdominal pain. Moreover, the diet will not be so strict over time, even though you won’t be able to go back to your old routine completely.

Here is a week’s sample menu for people with hyperacidity:

Monday

• Breakfast – meat pate, semolina/milk porridge
• lunch – soufflé, tea with milk
• dinner – poultry puree-soup, baked chicken, rice, compote, salad from boiled carrot with grated apple
• supper – vegetables stuffed with meat, cottage cheese pudding, tea
• before going to bed – a glass of milk

Tuesday

• Breakfast – egg soufflé, oat porridge
• lunch – milk kissel
• dinner – prune soup, baked apples with jam
• supper – veal schnitzel, potatoes, rose hip drink
• before going to bed – chamomile tea

Wednesday

• Breakfast – baked macaroni pudding with cottage cheese, linden tea
• lunch – berry kissel, stale croissant
• dinner – carrot puree-soup with toasts, fish dumpling, potatoes in milk
• supper – meat puree and mashed potatoes
• before going to bed – a glass of cream with dry toasts

Thursday

• Breakfast – boiled rice
• lunch – carrot-apple soufflé
• dinner – milk soup with rice, chicken balls stuffed with omelette, fruit kissel
• supper – beef noisettes with spaghetti
• before going to bed –rose hip drink

Friday

• Breakfast – poached egg, stale bun
• lunch – mild cheese, stale bun, butter, chamomile tea
• dinner – cream soup of vegetable mix, veal ragout with vegetables, rice, apple mousse with semolina
• supper – steamed fish rissoles with béchamel and boiled macaroni, weak tea with cookies
• before going to bed – a glass of milk

Saturday

• Breakfast – milk oat porridge, tea with milk
• lunch – carrot and cottage cheese pancakes
• dinner – oat soup, steamed meat dumplings with carrot puree, dried fruit compote
• supper – boiled fish with Polish sauce, boiled potatoes, rose hip tea
• before going to bed – cottage cheese cream

Sunday

• Breakfast – cottage cheese soufflé, tea with lemon
• lunch – milk buckwheat porridge, soft-boiled egg
• dinner – puree-soup of vegetable marrow with toasts dried in the oven, boiled beef stroganoff with vermicelli
• supper – lazy vareniki, tea
• before going to bed – a glass of milk