What Can You Eat for a Heartburn-Free Summer?
According to Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, author of Tell Me What to Eat If I Have Acid Reflux and of a new DVD titled The Heartburn-Friendly Kitchen, the key to enjoying summer foods is to know what agrees with you.
* Instead of tomatoes, load up your salads with carrots, beans, jicama, or other milder veggies.
* If chocolate is a trigger, eat a few Kisses instead of a double helping of Death by Chocolate cake.
* Burgers are OK, Magee says, but get the leanest cuts and dress with guacamole or something less acidic than catsup.
* If carbonated drinks lead to late-night torture, stick with iced tea.
* If Margaritas and you don’t get along, drink less or switch to a virgin strawberry type.
* Watermelon can be acid-producing. Consign it to a mixed fruit salad only.
* Eat smaller portions. Your stomach detects large amounts and pumps out more acid.