The Acid Watcher Diet

November 21, 2016
According to this guide to dealing with acid reflux, physician Aviv tested the titular diet on more than 4,000 patients. He details only two case studies (one involving himself), and more would have been useful, but this is otherwise an informative and educational work. Aviv discusses acid’s ill effects, including heartburn, throatburn reflux, and esophageal cancer, and includes a short quiz to assess acid damage. Following a brief anatomy primer, Aviv moves to the topic of diet. Then he provides the 28-day blueprint, a “healing phase” that eliminates certain foods, such as citrus fruits, and incorporates a pound of vegetables and a half pound of fruit each day. Readers will appreciate “healing food lists” with easy-to-follow menus and more than 30 pages of simple recipes that make the 28-day regimen seem attainable. Aviv promises measurable results including the elimination of coughing, heartburn, bloating, and food cravings. A suggested two-week maintenance phase follows, reintroducing initially eliminated foods such as chocolate, alcohol, and vinegar. The cherry on top for this program is potential relief from a number of other ailments, including psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Aviv’s research extends beyond his patient-tested diets and includes numerous outside sources, listed at the end.