Excess stomach acid can make you feel nauseous after eating anything, and it can easily lead to acid reflux and the urge to vomit, causing significant harm to the stomach. Therefore, when you have excess stomach acid, you must avoid eating the following foods.
What foods should you avoid when you have excess stomach acid?
1. Gassy foods
If you have excess stomach acid, eating gassy foods can cause the damaged gastric mucosa to lead to a stomach perforation, which is a very serious condition. Common gassy foods in daily life include citrus fruits, potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, onions, and legumes.
2. Carbonated drinks and alcohol
Carbonated drinks are highly acidic, and alcohol is also harmful to the stomach. Some alcoholic beverages are acidic, especially white liquor, whose acidity can even compare to that of carbonated drinks.
3. Strong tea
Chinese people love drinking tea, often brewing a cup after meals or in their leisure time. However, people with excess stomach acid should avoid drinking tea, especially strong tea. Tea affects the gastric mucosa, causing our stomach acid secretion to increase. For patients with gastric ulcers or duodenal ulcers, drinking tea will undoubtedly worsen the symptoms of excess stomach acid, leading to stomach pain. Drinking tea after taking medication can also reduce the drug's effectiveness.
4. Raw and cold foods
Whether you have a stomach condition or not, raw and cold foods are irritating to the stomach. Every doctor will tell patients with stomach problems to eat less of these foods. The same applies to excess stomach acid; patients should eat more gentle foods and eat less ice cream, ice pops, raw fish, etc.
5. Greasy foods
Greasy foods are high in fat. Consuming too much fat stimulates the gallbladder to contract and secrete, delays stomach emptying, and worsens stomach acid. Therefore, a light diet is recommended daily.
6. Acidic foods
This is easy to understand: people with excess stomach acid know that the fluid that comes back up is very acidic. To alleviate stomach acid, you obviously shouldn't eat more acidic things. Most acidic foods can be identified by their sour taste, such as oranges, tangerines, vinegar, and apples.
7. Sweets
Sweets also make gastric juice secretion more vigorous. They should be eaten less in daily life. Chocolates and cream cakes, which many women love, should be restrained when you have excess stomach acid.
8. Mint
Mint relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a major cause of stomach acid. Mint is harmful to the stomach, so not only should you eat less mint, but also avoid foods containing mint, such as drinking less mint tea and chewing less mint candy or mint gum.
9. Beans and coffee
Beans and coffee are foods that people trying to care for their stomach should not eat much of. Beans contain oligosaccharides, which are not easy to digest and can easily cause gas in the intestines. Coffee stimulates the stomach, causing excessive stomach acid secretion, which can lead to indigestion and acid reflux, and is also harmful to the stomach.
10. Broccoli and tomatoes
Broccoli and tomatoes are also foods that people with poor stomach health should eat less of. Broccoli contains soluble fiber, which can only be broken down in the large intestine, producing a large amount of gas, which is bad for the stomach. Tomato is a highly acidic food that can stimulate the stomach to produce excessive acid, making it a food that people with symptoms like acid reflux and heartburn should avoid or eat as little as possible.
11. Chocolate and chili peppers
Chocolate contains a large amount of theobromine, which has the same effect as mint, relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter and causing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, affecting stomach health. Chili peppers are very irritating and can easily irritate the stomach, causing stomach pain and other problems, especially for people from southern regions.
12. Citrus juice
Acidic drinks can irritate the esophagus, stimulating the sensory nerves and causing the stimulated area to become red and swollen.
13. Raw onions
Onions, garlic, and chives are full of various nutrients that are very beneficial to health, such as protecting the heart, but they can also cause gastrointestinal discomfort like gas and abdominal cramps. However, cooking seems to neutralize the compounds in these foods that cause this discomfort.
Dietary Principles for Excess Stomach Acid
1. It is advisable to eat foods containing alkaline components, such as dairy products, blood, soy sauce, and fresh vegetables and fruits like spinach, rape, and cabbage. Eat less acidic foods, such as legumes, peanuts, vinegar, and fatty foods.
2. Eat low-fat and low-sugar foods, as both high-fat and sweet foods can increase stomach acid secretion. Avoid condiments that stimulate stomach acid, such as chili peppers, coffee, and mustard.
3. When you have excess stomach acid, your diet should be based on staple foods like noodles. Noodles can dilute stomach acid, and the alkali in them can also neutralize it. Soy milk, porridge, etc., can dilute stomach acid and protect the gastric mucosa.
4. Eat at regular times; snacks can stimulate stomach acid. Do not overeat, as this can stimulate the gastric antrum to increase stomach acid secretion.