In the study, 12 men and 8 women with reflux symptoms who hadn't responded to medication were put on a low-acid diet for two weeks, eliminating all foods and beverages with a pH lower than 5.

She says that once people learn the basics of low-acid eating as well as their own trigger foods, it's a relatively simple diet to follow.

Keep trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible by limiting foods that contain synthetic sources of trans fats, such as partially hydrogenated oils, and by limiting other solid fats.