Try the Koufman Low Acid (and low fat) Diet Part 2 of 2

Link to Part 1 : https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2210975&g=2210975#m2210975

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Dr Koufman is a reasearcher in LPR and GERD, and represents the leading edge in her field of LPR.

Here is the link to the article. Nineteen of the 20 participants improved: http://www.voiceinstituteofnewyork.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Low-Acid-Diet.pdf

Here's what's allowed in the two-week induction phase of the diet:

Agave

Aloe vera juice

Artificial sweetener (2 tsp/day max)

Bagels and non-fruit low-fat muffins

Banana

Beans – all kinds

Bread – whole grain and rye

Caramel (fat-free, 4 tbsp/wk)

Celery

Chamomile tea

Chicken, not fat, no skin, chix stock

Coffee, max 1 cup/day

Egg whites

Fennel

Fish, no fat prep

Ginger

Graham crackers

Herbs (no peppers, citrus, garlic, mustard)

Honey

Melon

Mushrooms

Oatmeal

Olive oil max 2 tbsp/day

Parsley

Pasta (no acid sauce)

popcorn, no fats

Potatoes & other root vegetables

Rice, especially brown

Skim milk (also soy or lactaid skim)

Vegetable soups

Tofu

Turkey(no fats)

Vegetables (no onion, tomato, peppers)

Vinegarette max 1 tbsp/day

Whole grain breads, crackers, cereal

The diet is very low fat, as well as low acid.

Acidity or alkalinity of foods is based on actual pH value, not the acidified and alkalinized lists commonly found on the Internet. Here's a list of pH values of foods: http://www.arrowscientific.com.au/educational-material/ph-values-of-foods-and-food-products.html

And here's a list of the fat content of common foods: http://whatscookingamerica.net/NutritionalChart.htm

There are no good and bad fats for GERD, all take a lot of stomach acid to digest.

After the two-week phase, the book Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet and Cure teaches you how to balance some acids in your diet, and how to use fats just for taste. I have ordered the book from Amazon, and started the diet on Sept 13. My GI and throat symptoms have improved. I use calcium carbonate or CalciBlend to reduce acidity in my food, and I have purchased a pH meter to test foods for acidity.

Q's and A's about the diet may be found at this link: http://www.refluxcookbookblog.com/2011/01/25/replies-to-readers-questions-comments/

   Posted 9/13/2011 6:03 PM (GMT -6)   by sunbeam48

You are welcome and I know this topic has become very popular so it can carrry on here in Part 2

I have read all of the posts on this long thread (and responded to most), and I've read Dr Koufman's book.  I don't remember anyone who has reduced their GERD symptoms through this diet without medication.  It was developed more for people with LPR, who frequently do not respond as well to meds, even double doses of PPI's.  As you probably have read, I personally am just delighted to be off the PPI I was on for nearly a year.  I think Dr. Koufman does talk about a few people eventually getting off meds, but they first used the meds to get their symptoms under control.

I always suggest that people try the full-fledged induction and see what happens.  It is close to free (ya gotta eat!) and it is only two weeks out of a probable lifetime of GERD.  If this diet is going to help you, you should see some slight reduction of symptoms in those two weeks.

I wish you well.  We are all in this battle together, just going down different roads.