It is commonly observed that people whose diet is irregular, suffer through acid reflux problem. It is a prevalent issue in the digestive system where acids accumulate because of unhealthy eating habits and food contents. Mainly oily food, spicy agents, and acidic caffeine based drinks create excessive acids in the digestive tract which at a certain point cannot digest easily. Hence, a severe stomach problem people suffer is of a hiatal hernia. In this type of condition, the stomach’s upper portion presses upward through the diaphragm under the chest area. The main symptom one could face during the existence of a hiatal hernia is the acid reflux. Discomfort and pain caused after eating a specific type of spicy food items is another primary symptom of the respective condition.
What are the food items to avoid?
Therefore, a hiatal hernia diet should include non-acidic food preparations and liquid products. Some of the food items and ingredients are listed below:
- Garlic and onion: Raw or cooked both are acidic. They should curtail in food preparations from the hiatal hernia diet plan.
- Citrus fruits: It is better to avoid citrus foods entirely such as oranges and limes entirely until acid reflux and discomfort last.
- Tomato-based food items: Pasta in red sauce, salsa, spaghetti sauce all have high tomato content and should not include in the diet plan.
- Fried and spicy foods: Burgers, fried chicken, nuggets and food that is high in sodium and eliminated.
Which beverages are not allowed in hiatal hernia diet?
Anything which has acid and bubbles must be avoided. But to clearly understand what is not healthy for you at all, they are stated below:
- Wine, beer, spirit based drinks, and alcohol are not allowed
- Coffee filtered or non-filtered both avoided.
- Avoid caffeinated teas or ginger based tea preparation
- Seltzer water and soda drinks wholly banned for the hiatal hernia patients
- Whole milk which has a high-fat percentage and not pasteurized
Symptoms of a hiatal hernia
Hiatal hernia diet includes various food preparations that have low fat, few carbohydrates, and zero acidic contents. Those who suffer through a hiatal hernia may find meal times miserable. The constant pressure on the upper side of the stomach creates discomfort. The pressure on stomach regurgitates acid back to the food pipe, i.e., esophagus. It causes severe heartburn and difficulty in swallowing food. If symptoms are left untreated, then chest pain increases, later resulting into GERD.
What to do to curtail symptoms?
It is advised by the doctors to follow a hiatal hernia diet to curtail symptoms in the long run and do treatment side by side. Healthy snacks and food is the only alternative to give your stomach a significant relief. So what are those products and food preparations that can help you get relief?
Above, you were advised to avoid specific food products, here you will learn about the diet plan you should follow:
- Lean meat: When you are asked to prevent fat meat products if suffering from a hiatal hernia, then a thin meat recipe is your right savory. Red beef is specifically banned from the diet, only white meat like chicken and fish is in the diet plan. Lean proteins could also include mackerel and Codfish.
- Beans: Vegetarian patients could solely rely upon food recipes which include beans as the main ingredient. Tofu and soybean is a good healthy product that will not produce acids and prevent discomfort after meals. However, avoid fried soy and slightly marinate the preparation for 1 or 2 hours before cooking.
- Vegetables: Leafy and green vegetables have immense benefits. Spinach, broccoli, and dark leafy green vegetables are an excellent source of calcium and vitamin B. To experiment with the variety you can add red bell peppers in some quantity in salad portions, carrots as juice for a natural source of an antioxidant.
- Fruits: Apricots, raspberries, blueberries, and cantaloupe are advised to include in the diet plan, while tomatoes, oranges, grapefruit, and any other citrus fruit not advised at all.
Add beverages to your diet plan
Water is a primary source of natural remedy for a hiatal hernia. However, here are some choices you can add in a hiatal hernia diet plan – herbal teas (not so cold and not so hot). It is recommended to drink plenty of water to prevent acid reflux action and ease the hernia symptoms.
Is weight control necessary for hiatal hernia patients?
Yes, weight management is a significant step in the prevention of a hiatal hernia. Those who consume extra calories and do not exercise well to convert it into energy suffer through a hiatal hernia more in comparison to those who can maintain weight.
To prevent symptoms of the respective condition, one should take necessary precautions such as – take empty stomach medication prescribed by the doctor for acidity relief. Do cardio exercises with intensive training to burn extra fat from the belly. Eat small meals and do not fill the stomach with food at once. Chew as much as you can and sip water in between.
