Jamie Koufman et al. - Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure

DROPPING ACID

THE REFLUX DIET
COOKBOOK & CURE

Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure

Copyright 2010 The Reflux Cookbooks, LLC
ISBN: 978-0-9827083-1-6
Printed in the United States of America by G & H Soho, Inc. (Elmwood Park, NJ)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any other storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of Dr. Jamie Koufman ( www.KoufmanReflux.com ).

Notice and Disclaimer
This book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. The information given here is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment that might have been prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, we urge you to seek medical help. Any use of this book is at the readers discretion, as the advice and strategies contained within may not be suitable for every individual.

Mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in this book does not imply endorsement by the authors or the publisher, nor does mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities imply that they endorse this book.

Measurements of acidity (pH) of the foods and beverages listed in this book were done by the authors using a Minilab ISFET pH meter (Model IQ128 pH meter with Silicon Chip Sensor, Pulse Instruments, Carlsbad, CA). The pH meter was calibrated before each use and cleaned between measurements, and it was noted that the device returned to neutral pH before taking the next measurement. Nevertheless, we recognize that sampling error can occur, and that any particular measurement might show significant variance. In addition, a particular food item can vary significantly in pH from day to day and from batch to batch, and depending on ripeness, growing conditions, handling, and processing.

Designed by: Rogers Seidman Design
All photographs in this book were taken by Jamie Koufman and Jordan Stern.

Cover: Crunchy Cucumber and Fennel Salad (); photo by Jordan Stern.
Note: The green sliced vegetables in the dish are sliced green beans, not jalapeo peppers. There are no jalapeos in The Reflux Diet.

Dedicated to our patients
who asked for this book

I have never developed indigestion from eating my words.
Winston Churchill

I saw few die of hunger; of eating, a hundred thousand.
Benjamin Franklin

Its difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts
while eating a homegrown tomato.
Lewis Grizzard

A cid reflux is epidemic, and you probably dont even know you have it.

Do you cough or clear your throat a lot after eating a meal? Or wake up in the middle of the night coughing or short of breath? Is your throat hoarse or sore in the morning? Do you have the sensation of a lump in your throat or difficulty swallowing? Are you plagued by post-nasal drip?

Reflux is not just indigestion and heartburn. We now know about silent refluxa term coined by Dr. Jamie Koufmanin which you may experience many of the above symptoms without indigestion.

Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure is the first book to acknowledge that reflux comes in many colorsa concept that is just now coming to the publics attention. If you are over forty, theres a 5050 chance you already have it. Reflux is one of the most important, misunderstood, and preventable diseases of Western civilization. We estimate that 100 million Americans have reflux, many of them unaware of it, and many of them incorrectly diagnosed.

Not only is reflux amazingly widespread, its incidence is on the rise. Why? We believe it has largely to do with excessive acid in our diets.

You see, its not just about obesity and overeating, as many people think. Reflux increasingly strikes the thin, the athletic and the young. A generation ago, almost all the reflux patients we saw were in their 40s and 50s; today, theyre as likely to be in their 20s and 30s. Dr. Jamie Koufman remembers a patient who had just graduated from NYU with her heart set on becoming a Broadway star, but perpetual hoarseness was interfering with her singing. She was only 21, but it was already so far gone that she needed surgery. Perhaps more disturbing was that all her friends were experiencing the same symptoms! Theyre not the first generation of college grads to go out for a beer on a Saturday night, but theyre the first generation to pay for it so dearly.

Not only are we seeing reflux in a younger population, were seeing less of the classic symptom of heartburn and more of the symptoms listed at the start of this chapter. Reflux is changing and adapting with the times, and so must we.

Reflux is complicated. It makes certain foods your enemy. The symptoms that are stirred up by late-night eating can affect your sleep, and poor sleep eats away at quality of life and other aspects of your health.

Reflux is pernicious. We believe it is a major cause of cancer of the esophagus and throat, and possibly other cancers as well.

Fortunately, for many people there is a cure. It is right here in this cookbook, where two doctors take everything they know about reflux and join forces with a creative chef.

But this is not just a cookbook. We certainly hope you will prepare and enjoy the delicious, healthful dishes French Master Chef Marc Bauer developed for this book using cutting-edge medical research on foods that are safe, but we also encourage you to read the chapters on the science behind reflux, where we explain what causes reflux and its symptoms, and why this poses such a serious health risk for you.

In part, we present and explain the science because we realize how controversial reflux has become, with many points of view on it tied to many different and segmented medical specialties. As experts in the field for a long time, we have worked conscientiously to provide a fair and accurate overview of a most misunderstood condition. In the chapter What You Eat Could Be Eating You () presents a more comprehensive and documented account of the medical researchmuch of it done by Dr. Jamie Koufmanthat helps fill the gap between reflux as it may be understood by your local doctor and reflux as it affects your everyday life.

The research in this book lends scientific validity and authority to the sensible health concerns of those consumers, organizations, and political leaders who are interested in monitoring the quality and safety of our food. By reading one or both of the science chapters, you will better understand why and how the recipes in Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure can help you feel well and get healthier not just when youre in need of a quick fix, but for good.

reflux n [ L re- back + fluxus flow ]
1: a flowing back 2: a process of refluxing

COMMON TERMS FOR REFLUX

General Terms
Acid reflux
Gastric reflux
Indigestion
Heartburn

Terms for Esophageal Reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) (U.K.)
Peptic esophagitis / Esophageal erosions

Terms for Throat Reflux
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)