LPR Diet Plan: 11 Quick And Easy Tips You Need To Know

Eating the correct foods is the key to solving your laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), also known as silent reflux. Your LPR diet plan doesn’t have to be boring for hard to plan for. Follow these tips to make meal planning easy, reduce your reflux and the pain associated with it. These tips are highly suitable for heartburn and GERD sufferers as well because the aim of the LPR diet is to prevent acid reflux.

What is laryngopharyngeal reflux?

LPR diet plan

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) or silent reflux is when stomach acid regurgitates back up through your esophagus and into your larynx (or throat). Symptoms are a sore throat and an irritated voice box, which may cause you to have a hoarse voice.

Learn more about LPR or silent reflux disease.

Why do I need a LPR diet plan?

LPR is usually associated with the consumption of high-fat, low-protein, high-sugar, acidic foods, and beverages. If you would like to see some research to back up these claims, click here.

Usually, the first steps to cure silent reflux are diet and lifestyle changes, hence the need for a LPR diet plan. Because your LPR is caused by acid reflux, your LPR diet plan should consist of foods that don’t trigger acid reflux.

Everyone has different triggers, but there are foods that commonly cause acid reflux, and it’s best to start by avoiding those. If things are going well, then try (very gradually) to introduce small amounts of lower risk trigger foods back into your diet. This is the way you work out how much you can tolerate.

Quick and easy LPR diet plan tips

1. Shop smarter

When you go shopping, don’t buy acid reflux trigger foods. If you don’t have them in the house, you can’t eat them.

2. Go easy on spices

Be wary of the spices that could trigger heartburn – chilies, peppers and garlic. Stay away from these. On the other hand, you can always use fresh or dehydrated herbs because they don’t usually have any link with heartburn. Although one herb you’ll probably need to avoid is mint as its a common trigger for acid reflux.

3. Get off to a good start

LPR Diet Plan grains and vegetables

Start your day with wholegrains and fruits for breakfast instead of heavy greasy cooked fare. But, keep the citrus fruits out. Try these breakfast recipes.

4. Tomatoes are out

Eliminate tomatoes from your kitchen and LPR diet plan – they can be a major cause of acid reflux for many people.

5. No-fat dairy, if you can tolerate it

Either avoid dairy, or go for the skimmed versions as much as possible. You may have heard that milk can provide quick relief for acid reflux – and that’s true – but after a while it forms acid in your stomach and will make your symptoms worse.

You might be able to tolerate some low fat cheeses such as feta or cottage cheese. No fat yoghurt might also be a good option to get good bacteria into your stomach.

There are certain milks and milk substitutes that may be OK to include in your LPR diet. The only way to know is to try them out as everyone is different. And if you’re going to experiment, do so with small amounts first.

6. Lean meats are best

Try and avoid red meat, or at least, the fattier cuts. Meats that you’d normally fry as a whole steak such as T-bone contain a lot of fat. Likewise, ground beef, sausages and deli meats are out. But even if you do have it, trim off all the fat. Even for poultry, have the flesh but not the skin or the fat. White flesh fish is a good option for your LPR diet, but be mindful not to cook it in a lot of oil. Try these acid reflux friendly dinner recipes.

7. Fried foods are a no-no

Instead of frying food, boil, roast, grill or bake it. This lowers the amount of fat in the food and makes it heartburn friendly. Yes, many people believe that the flavor’s in the fat, but bust that myth by flavoring with fresh produce and herbs, non-acidic juices or broths!

LPR diet plan

8. Portion control

Don’t cook a whole lot of food – this helps to cut portion size – which can keep acid reflux away. Measure out the ingredients and then cook meals so that everybody has a healthy but just adequate portion. Have a greater number of meals consisting of smaller portions instead.

9. Think outside the box for dessert

Desserts needn’t be totally no-no, but yes, try to avoid dairy, keep them low fat and cut back on the sugar content. Try a fresh fruit platter when entertaining. Melons – watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew, are some of the best fruits for acid reflux.

If you must have cake, angel food cake, which is lower in fat than other cakes is a better, lighter option. Be mindful that artificial sugar substitutes can play havoc with acid reflux.

Also, try to make desserts that do not use chocolate or lots of cream – these are very common heartburn triggers.

And if your looking for inspiration, here are 50 dessert recipes that are suitable for people on a LPR diet plan.

10. Wholegrains are your friend

Switch to whole grains like brown rice or quinoa, the added fiber and lower carb content helps to keep LPR and reflux in check. For breakfast, try oatmeal with the milk that works best for you. To make it even better for you, when adding milk to your oatmeal, try half no-fat milk and half water.

11. Stay hydrated

LPR diet plan and exercise

As for eating meals, keep some water handy – this helps to dilute the stomach acids, decreasing the chances of heartburn.

Beyond your LPR diet plan

Along with your LPR diet plan, you’ll probably also need to implement some other lifestyle changes.

The last word on the LPR diet plan

While LPR and silent reflux need lifestyle changes and treatment of its own, controlling what you cook and what you eat can also help you to control your condition. And these quick and easy tips will get your off to a good start with your LPR diet plan.