Many factors increase the risk of reflux, such as overeating, eating greasy foods, or lying down immediately after eating. Therefore, eating habits greatly affect reflux.
Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter, which prevents stomach acid from flowing back up into the esophagus, becomes ineffective. When this sphincter relaxes abnormally or is under excessive pressure from the stomach, acidic stomach contents along with food can reflux upwards, according to the health website Verywell Health (USA).
People with acid reflux can pour soup over their rice, but they shouldn't add too much liquid.
PHOTO: AI
Rice is not a food that triggers reflux. This is because rice has a low fat content and low acidity. Furthermore, rice is considered a relatively easy food to digest.
When rice is cooked, the starch undergoes gelatinization, making it easier for the digestive system to break down. For this reason, soft and light foods like white rice and porridge are often recommended for people with sensitive digestive systems.
The habit of pouring a lot of soup over rice can make the meal more watery than usual. This can affect digestive physiology and reflux mechanisms.
Liquid foods can move through the stomach more quickly. As the amount of liquid in the stomach increases, the pressure inside the stomach can also increase, making it easier for stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus.
This doesn't mean all liquid foods are harmful. However, it does suggest that meals that are too liquid or contain too much water may increase the risk of symptoms in some people with reflux.
People with acid reflux should avoid adding too much broth to their rice.
Another factor to consider is the overall volume of the meal. When the stomach contains too much food or liquid at once, the pressure inside the stomach can increase significantly.
In fact, many people with acid reflux can still eat rice with soup without any problems. This depends on the amount of soup, the way it's eaten, and the types of food served with it.
If you want to maintain this habit, people with reflux should avoid adding too much broth to their rice. A moderate amount of broth can help soften the rice and make it easier to eat.
In addition, eating slowly and chewing thoroughly is also very important. When food is chewed thoroughly before entering the stomach, the digestive process will be smoother and less stressful on the digestive system.
People with reflux should also avoid greasy, overly spicy, or overly sour soups. These can irritate the stomach and relax the lower esophageal sphincter. Additionally, they should not lie down immediately after eating. Gastroenterologists generally recommend waiting at least 2-3 hours after a meal before lying down, according to Verywell Health .