by Intro
When I decided to turn to for guidance on managing acid reflux, I was acquainted with The Acid Watcher Diet by Dr. Jonathan Aviv. In all the books I’ve read on this topic and all the material I’ve encountered on managing, this book was a game-changer for anyone suffering from acid reflux. One of the things that I loved about this book is that I felt “held by the hand. ” The book guides you through a 28-day program that’s focused on preventing and healing reflux by taking a holistic approach to diet and lifestyle changes.
Right up front, Dr. Aviv explains the science behind reflux in simple words. Then, he explains how certain foods, drinks, and lifestyle choices can trigger or aggravate reflux symptoms.
What I liked about the book
The book had an academic feel to it. Dr. Aviv talks more about the anatomy of acid reflux than other books I’ve come across. He also presents diagrams to illustrate what he’s talking about. I found it helpful that there was a quiz in the book, which helps you evaluate if you have reflux damage. The book has tons of surprises for curious individuals.
Recipes
I was delighted with the recipes. Compared with other acid reflux books that provide recipes, this one was to my taste and accommodating to my reflux. The recipes were delicious and composed of just a few ingredients, making digestion easier.
There’s no use of sugar, alcohol, or vinegars in any recipe, all products that irritate me. Instead, the recipes use some natural sweeteners like agave syrup and various fresh fruits and vegetables, and the recipes are low in carbs. There is hardly any use of dairy, which is advantageous for my case.
There’s also a very nice mix or warm and cold foods which I appreciated a lot. I could do a cold fruit smoothie in the morning and end the day with some deliciously satisfying fish and chips (modified for heartburn sufferers of course!) for dinner.
Meal Plan
Before getting into the recipes, Dr. Aviv lists various foods and their associated PH levels so you understand that the recipes are composed of low-acid foods.
I love that Dr. Aviv provides shopping lists of acceptable foods to eat and recommends how much, in pounds, you should be consuming fruits and veggies. It takes all the guesswork out!
What’s also amazing is that Dr. Aviv shares one month’s worth of low-acidic meals promoting gut health. This made it so easy to follow. From breakfasts, snacks, lunches and dinners, believe me, you won’t have to sacrifice taste for health with this diet.
Healing Phases
I love that he takes healing in steps. You’ll go through a healing a phase with background information and the appropriate recipes, and then you will come across the maintenance phase, which you can use once you’ve completed the healing phase.
This book has a wealth of valuable information. I was even surprised he provided advice for active lifestyles in the last few pages. This book has so much to give.
What I disliked
There’s nothing that I disliked about this book! If I have one recommendation, it’s to talk about other healthcare professionals who can help with acid reflux as well and how they help. Why? because if you’re being this helpful, why stop?!
Conclusion
This book deserves a 4.9 out 5 stars. It’s excellent, almost perfect so I highly recommend The Acid Watcher Diet to anyone wanting to control their reflux symptoms and improve their overall health. Dr. Aviv’s program is well-researched, practical, and effective. This is the program that I used to get my diet-related symptoms under control. It taught me how to eat without having to rely on the recipes in the long term. And believe it or not there’s a bunch of dishes I still crave in my healed state. One of them is the wholewheat crepes with blueberry syrup YUM!
Have you read this book? How did it work out for you?
