A low-acid diet isn't about avoiding acid entirely — it's about reducing foods that are either acidic themselves (which can irritate an already-sensitive esophagus) or that trigger the body to produce more acid or relax the LES. In practice, that means limiting citrus fruits and juices, tomato-based foods, vinegar-heavy dressings, coffee, and carbonated drinks, while building meals around lower-acid options like oats, lean proteins, root vegetables, melon, and bananas. It's less restrictive than it sounds: most people don't need to eliminate every acidic food permanently, just reduce the ones that clearly correlate with their symptoms. The most useful version of a low-acid diet is a personalized one, built through a short elimination period followed by reintroducing foods one at a time to see what actually matters for you.
