Indigestion - Indigestion - Dietary Recommendations

If you suspect that your indigestion is caused by eating certain foods, a food diary in which you list every food and beverage consumed throughout the day is the best aid to help you establish a possible link. Be sure to write down everything.
Big family dinners, holiday parties, and social gatherings are all too often followed by indigestion. Smaller, more frequent meals are helpful for many people. You'll also probably feel more comfortable if you reduce or eliminate your intake of caffeine and alcohol. Remember that even decaffeinated beverages can cause indigestion in some people.
Specific foods that seem to provoke indigestion include orange juice, tomato juice, tomatoes, and radishes. Few people with indigestion complain of spices being a problem, but if your food diary shows a routine upset after you eat a certain herb or spice, by all means, eliminate it. Though some people think they are reacting to spicy sauces, it is more likely the tomato base of the sauce that is the problem-not the spice itself. A little trial and error on your part, along with notes in your food diary, will help you determine what is troublesome for you.
Keeping the fat content of meals and snacks low is a good idea. Remember that fat tends to slow down the rate at which the stomach empties. The less fat the stomach has to handle, the less time the food will be there. And the more quickly it moves to the next stage of digestion, the less likely it is to create a problem. There's no doubt that if stomach motility is slow, or if you eat large, fatty meals washed down with alcohol and coffee, indigestion is bound to be a problem. You might try eating less fried and greasy foods like fried chicken, french fries, heavy sauces, and gravy. Salad dressings and large portions of cheese and nuts should also be reduced. You may not have to eliminate any food at all. Just eating less of it could be the solution