Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C48jsQ_rk_H/ Heartburn is common.  At least 1 in every 4 persons in North America have it, and it seems that nearly everyone you know is on some type of acid-suppressing medicine, prescription or over-the-counter or both.  With the trend toward using food as medicine, let’s look at the foods that can help you control gastric acid and heartburn. Melons including cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon and bananas.  Melons have low acid content so they don’t add to the acid your stomach produces.  Same is true for bananas. Green vegetables including broccoli, asparagus, green beans, celery, and cauliflower are low acid and healthy. Fish don’t contribute to acid problems.  Grill, bake or poach it.  No frying. Lean chicken, turkey, and beef are low acid.  Don’t fry or eat the skin.  Fatty versions will trigger heartburn. Egg whites have good protein and are low acid. Then the carbs: Oatmeal has fiber which helps your gi system keep moving. Whole-grain bread has lots of vitamins,