Dr Oz: 10-Day Plan To Cure Acid Reflux + Eliminate Acidic Foods

Dr Oz: 10-Day Plan To Cure Acid Reflux

Dr Oz was talking with Tricia, a woman who suffers from acid reflux so bad that she relies on eight or nine antacids a day to find relief. Dr Oz had a 10-day plan to “cool off acid reflux” and to aid in the discussion, he welcomed a surgeon and heartburn specialist, Dr James Rosser. Dr Rosser said this plan isn’t for those with heartburn every now and then, but rather for those experiencing the nagging symptoms two to three times a week or more.

The first phase of the plan is 10 days long and is the “shock and awe” phase. Dr Rosser calls it that because he says it’s a “war against heartburn.” The goal of the plan is the rebalance the acid in your stomach, in order to cool down the heartburn and let you continue on with your life.

Dr Oz: Eliminate Acidic Foods

The first step in the plan is to eliminate the “heartburn landmine.” Heartburn landmines start on the far end, or “red end,” of the spectrum when it comes to pH levels. In that category are energy drinks, sodas, chocolate, or canned foods.

The goal is to move to the alkaline side, or the “purple side” of the spectrum where there are things like eggs, avocado, and watermelon. As Dr Oz pointed out, there are quite a few things on the red side that you wouldn’t guess would be acidic. Cereal is an example.

Dr Rosser said, “Everyone says an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but it’s bananas.” To find relief, you need to eliminate the acidic foods, and eat more of the alkaline foods.

Dr Oz: Never Go Hungry With Frequent Meals

You should also change the frequency of your meals. Dr Rosser said the number one thing to remember with his plan is that you can never go hungry. He suggests eating small meals throughout the day, approximately every two to three hours.

Dr Rosser shared an example of a day of food on his plan that would help to suppress the acid in the morning. He suggested starting the day with a spinach omelet, then enjoying a small bowl of melons as a snack. For lunch, he suggested having a high-fiber salad, saying you can add grilled fish or chicken if you want some protein to go with it. An afternoon snack he loves himself is a bowl of nuts. For dinner, Dr Rosser liked the idea of eating fish over a cucumber and greens salad.

Dr Oz: Acid Reflux Medications

Finally, how you can ditch the antacids? Dr Rosser said frequently, people are taking up to three medications: antacids, H2 blockers, and PPIs. He said the first thing that has to go is the antacids because they’re “not that good anyway for your problem.” Plus, Dr Rosser said the antacids can cause other problems like kidney stones and diarrhea. For the first 10 days, get rid of the antacids. If you’re on H2 blockers or PPIs, you have to hold off a bit because there are some withdrawal protocols. If you take them back too quickly, you can experience a rebound.

Dr Rosser also explained that a lot of people may not be taking their medications properly, saying that for example, you’re supposed to drink a full glass of water with an H2 blocker, but a lot of people don’t. You’re also supposed to take a PPI 30-60 minutes before eating or else they won’t work as well.

Dr Oz: Follow Alcohol With Coconut Water

After the first 10 days, Dr Rosser suggested that for every acidic food you eat, eat two alkaline foods. Of course, a lot of us like our alcohol, especially red wine. He said you can take coconut water along with you and use it as your alkaline chaser.