Foods to avoid for night time reflux
"The single greatest risk factor for developing acid reflux, asthma, and sleep apnea is night eating," explains Dr. Jamie Koufman, a pioneering laryngologist, director of the Voice Institute of New York, and author of New York Times bestsellers DROPPING ACID: THE REFLUX DIET COOKBOOK & CURE and THE CHRONIC COUGH ENIGMA – Acid Reflux, Asthma, and Recalcitrant Cough – The Path to a Cure.
If you have trouble breathing IN you may be one of more than 100 million Americans suffering from silent reflux. Hoarseness, postnasal drip, sinusitis, allergies, asthma, sore throat, and cough that don't respond to traditional treatments could signal silent reflux. The source of misery begins with the consequences of what you eat: stomach contents backs up into the throat causing laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), the medical term for reflux into the throat. LPR is also known as airway reflux and silent reflux. "Silent" describes LPR reflux when a person is unaware that the problem is actually acid reflux. THE CHRONIC COUGH ENIGMA explains how to recognize, diagnose, and treat neurogenic and reflux-related cough.
Dr. Koufman says that ideally, you shouldn't eat or drink within four hours of bed (or lying down on the sofa.) Four hours is how long it takes the stomach to empty, and if you have reflux or just want to avoid it, you should go to bed with an empty stomach. And when it comes to nighttime eating, Dr. Koufman says, avoid these:
- Alcohol (a whiskey nightcap is the kiss of death) - Alcohol relaxes the esophageal valves; if you go sleep with a buzz, you will reflux all night long.
- Carbonated beverages - All soft drinks and fruit juices are as acidified as stomach acid — AVOID
- Chocolate candy - Chocolate reflexes the esophagus and is a terrible reflux trigger, especially at night
- Ice Cream (especially chocolate) - The relatively high fat with chocolate is an invitation to reflux; clean out the freezer!
- "Energy" drinks - A big-dose of caffeine relaxes the stomach valves and is acidic too; this stuff is poison!
- High-Fat, high-sugar cookies - Alas, these combinations are the worst for nighttime snacks and will increase weight as well.
- Sandwiches (worst ones pastrami and cheese burgers) - These items relax the esophageal valves and slow stomach emptying — never eat this after nine p.m.
- Nuts (especially cashews, macadamias, peanuts, and walnuts) - These are among the most common reflux trigger foods.
- Citrus and apples (avoid both the fruit and the beverages) - Too acidic, even one small green apple before bed will set off reflux.
- Pizza and cheese (especially high-fat cheeses like brie) - Eating pizza or cheese late at night as a snack is a bad idea unless you want to reflux all night.
- Coffee /Espresso - Not only does caffeine relax the esophageal valves, the chemicals in coffee trigger reflux.
Dr. Jamie Koufman is one of America's leading laryngologists. She has lectured nationally and internationally, and is one of the world's authorities on reflux disease. Dr. Koufman is Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of the New York Medical College, and has been listed among the Top Doctors in America every year since 1994. Dr. Koufmans's book is available through Katalitix Media, distributed by Simon & Schuster, $14.95.
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