Saturday mornings is spent attending Little Miss Mischief's swimming lessons. There is usually a stack of Sydneys Child magazines at the front counter which I grab a copy; the aim is to read it before it gets too wet. Yesterday I managed to read a long winded anguished filled article about a mum who was battling her daughter's reflux problem. At the tender age of 3, the daughter had been dragged to a plethora of doctors and specialists, finally there was too be a gastroscopy in which the mother was hoping that something conclusive would be found. The painful article detailed in depth the medication this poor child was submitted too, but not once did the mother complain about the restriction of diet modification, which led me to believe that the topic of a suitable diet might not have been discussed or even considered.
Reflux is a debilitating and a life long affliction, but it can be easily managed. Usually either hereditary or emotionally induced, diet is the most important aspect in treating Reflux. In this day & age most people look for the quick fix, a pill.
If I had been this lady's doctor, I would have immediately steered her directly to diet education for the child. My first degree is in Nutrition, which I majored in Reflux disorders, as I have Reflux, so did dad and 2 of my children. We have all been symptom and pain free for many years.
Rules of Reflux
1) Nothing cold! everything should be hot, warm or tepid. I knew a mum whose baby had chronic reflux. Visiting her one day she took a cold bottle of formula from the fridge and feed the baby. Her attitude was that she didn't want to 'spoil' her child. Telling her about the no cold rule she warmed the bottle and 2 weeks later she rang to say it did the trick, her baby was no longer on the medication.
First thing every morning and throughout the day I drink hot water. Boil the kettle, pour the water into a cup, let it stand a little to cool enough to drink. I find it very revitalising. I was doing that long before it got trendy.
2) No Fizz!! Soft drinks are the enemy, they can be consumed but only when flat and at room temperature. In summer I drink the odd tepid glass of Coke that has gone flat. Surprisingly it's not that bad.
3) No Acidic foods. Freshly squeezed orange juice is murderous on a reflux stomach. Fruit cup cordial is a better option. No limes, lemons, kiwifruit, grapefruit, tomatoes, radishes, cabbages either, unless dosed with sugar. Replace oranges etc with fleshy fruits such as peaches, nectarines, lychee's. I do eat raw tomatoes with a sprinkling of sugar, I love tomatoes and sugar neutralises the acid. I always include a tablespoon of sugar when making my pasta sauce. Spicy foods, Vinegar or pickled foods are best avoided altogether. I love Corn Relish but my stomach goes into painful spasms afterwards
4) Small meals often. Never let a reflux child go hungry!. Grazing is the new way of life, not 3 solid meals a day. Warm cereal such as porridge, polenta, semolina or warmed milk over weetbix, a high protein breakfast that includes meat, eggs etc is better. Avoid heavy meals or late meals. Don't eat at least an hour before bed.
5) Fresh nuts such as almond and cashews (unsalted) a small handful each morning will not only keep away brain fog, it sedates the stomach. Banana's are brilliant, simply amazing, a powerhouse of nutrition, they are also a natural antacid.
6) Gotta love the Milk and hate the Chocolate. My mother's trick when I was feeling the effect, was a dutch remedy of aniseed and milk. The were always Anissed blocks in the pantry, one block was dissolved in hot milk. Handing me a cup with a kiss, I would sip the pain away. I was 10 when I first tasted the delights of a chocolate biscuit, Tim Tam, at a friends house. Aghast that I had never had one before, the family allowed me 3, which I ate in rapid succession. 2 hours later the family called Dad to collect me as I was doubled over in pain. Years later I discovered that dark chocolate was far more stomach friendly.
7) No Artificial Sweeteners!!!. I am horrified at the amount of 'childrens food' (processed foods aimed at the youth market) that contain this insidious additive. If it is labelled 'Preserative and Colouring Free' then it definitely has artificial sweeteners. I even found children's yoghurt that had this stuff. All diet foods have this horrible element and should be avoided at all cost even if you don't have reflux. Aspartame, not only is it toxic on reflux tummy's, it's a carcinogenic. Natural sugar is far more healthier than this. Read the labels carefully.
8) Coffee, Smoking, Alcohol (we're talking adult consumption) are big no no's. Tea or Chai's are ok to a limit.
9) Physical Activity. Get out and get active! Life, be in it don't just watch it! One golden rule is that after each meal, get up and get moving. A walk after dinner is fantastic.
It isn't that had to following the above simple dietary rules, but by doing so will increase the quality of comfort and life lived.
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