What Foods to Avoid With Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus, a condition sometimes diagnosed in patients with gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD), can be a precursor to more serious esophogeal diseases and should be managed carefully. In patients with this condition, the tissue that lines the esophagus changes, usually because of exposure to stomach acid. Decreasing stomach acid and preventing heartburn through an appropriate diet is the key to keeping symptoms at bay.

Know Your Triggers

• Foods that irritate the stomach and esophagus of one person may not bother another. Patients with Barrett's esophagus should know and avoid foods that trigger their symptoms. Generally, however, fatty and fried foods can irritate the esophageal lining and should be avoided. Other common irritants include alcohol, tomato sauce and other tomato products, orange juice, caffeine, onion and garlic. Nicotine can also worsen heartburn pain, and peppermint and chocolate tend to relax the valve in the lower esophogus, which can increase the back flow of stomach acid.

Low-Fat Diet, Meal Strategies

• Patients should aim for a low-fat diet by incorporating five or more servings of vegetables and fruits. By eating a low-fat diet, overweight patients may lose excess pounds that can contribute to symptoms.

  At each meal, limit portion sizes to minimize symptoms, and don't eat within two or three hours before bedtime. Replace carbonated sodas with water, especially in the hours before bedtime.

Smoking

• Smoking plays a role in the severity of Barrett's esophagus symptoms as it has been shown to weaken the sphincter in the lower esophagus, and reflux often results. By not smoking, the patient allows the esophogeal sphincter to do its job more effectively, which is to keep damaging stomach acid out of the esophagus.