Controlling Reflux Symptoms with a Diet For GERD
Controlling the symptoms of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) can depend a great deal on the relationship between reflux and diet. Of course, no one wants to give up great food, but a diet for GERD doesn’t have to be tasteless or boring. However, when diagnosed with GERD, certain changes will need to be made in order to bring symptoms under control.
To avoid the burning symptoms of this condition, a diet for GERD can include the following foods:
Fruits: Apples, pineapple and bananas
Vegetables: Broccoli, baked potato, cabbage, carrots, green beans and peas
Meat: Lean meat with no marbling fat, chicken breast and fish
Dairy: Low-fat or no-fat cheese, sour cream, feta and goat cheese
Grains: Most grains are good for a GERD diet, either whole-grain or white
What is a Diet for GERD?
Basically, a diet for GERD is low on fat and higher on carbohydrates. This is because high fat foods kick the stomach into high gear as far as producing stomach acid. Although it is a weakness in the LES valve that is responsible for GERD symptoms, keeping stomach acid at a manageable level can help prevent the reflux of the acid into the esophagus which causes the burning sensation acid reflux sufferers experience.
GERD and diet are key in managing the disease, but that is not the only aspect of control needed to keep symptoms at bay. There are other behavior modifications that can also play an important role. For instance, eating slowly and chewing thoroughly makes food easier to digest by the time it reaches the stomach, meaning the stomach needs to produce less stomach acid. Smaller meals throughout the day prevents distention of the stomach and relieves the pressure on the LES valve.
After a meal, especially a large one, some people think a nap is a good idea. When you have GERD, it is not. In fact, it is probably a very bad idea. When you lie down after a meal, it is much easier for the stomach acid to escape the LES valve and cause that awful burning to start. This is why so many people have nighttime acid reflux. The solution is to refrain from lying down at least an hour after any meal, and to elevate the head of your bed six to eight inches.
Of course, as with any diet, a diet for GERD includes a list of foods to avoid. Everyone is different, and not all of these foods will be a trigger for you. When constructing a GERD diet, it is a good idea to keep a daily food journal and make note of the foods which seem to cause acid reflux symptoms.
Foods to avoid on a diet for GERD may include:
Citrus fruits and beverages such as orange juice, lemonade, grapefruit, cranberry and tomato juice.
Vegetables that are deep-fried, such as french fries, and raw onion or garlic.
High-fat meat, like ground beef, chuck, marbled sirloin and chicken wings.
All high-fat dairy products, for instance ice cream, sour cream and regular cottage cheese.
Chocolate, doughnuts and potato or corn chips should also be avoided.
The above listed foods are generally are advised for GERD sufferers to avoid because of their high fat or acidic content. There may be foods that act as a trigger for you which do not appear on the list. This is where a food journal can come in handy. Keeping healthy with a diet for GERD doesn’t have to be complicated, and by watching how and what you eat you may be able to bypass medication or surgery as the first form of treatment for GERD.
