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GERD Nutritional Diet

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an intestinal disease in which acid and other contents from the stomach comes back up into the esophagus. Other terms for this occurrence include heartburn and acid reflux. Over time, the stomach acid can erode the lining of the esophagus, causing further health problems. Dietary adjustments are vital in treating and preventing GERD problems. Eating properly can help alleviate or reduce the occurrence of acid reflux.

  1. Eating Properly

    • Eating properly with GERD means not only changing what you eat, but also how you eat it. Heartburn is more likely to occur when the stomach is too full. Rather than overeating at any meal, try eating several small meals spaced evenly throughout the day. In addition, eat your food slowly rather than rushing through the meal. When you eat too quickly it can cause gas, indigestion, and heartburn.
      If you suffer from GERD, it can be helpful to change when you eat as well. Eating too close to bed time can mean painful heartburn all night long. Try not to eat anything for two or three hours before you lie down for the night.

    Foods to Enjoy

    • There are some foods that are great for you and that will not cause pain from GERD. Fresh fruits and vegetables such as bananas, apples, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, green beans, potatoes, and peas are good because they are not likely to cause acid reflux problems. Other foods that are safe to eat include skinless chicken breast, fish, eggs, lean steak, and low-fat dairy products.

    Foods to Avoid

    • Unfortunately, the list of foods that can cause problems with acid reflux is pretty long. However, many of the foods that cause heartburn are also those that are not the healthiest for us. Try to avoid eating anything too fatty, greasy, or fried. Spicy or acidic sauces are another common source of heartburn and acid reflux, so try to avoid sauces or other foods with a lot of hot spices, tomato sauce, salsa, citrus fruit juice, and vinegar. Also avoid chocolate, alcohol, coffee, and carbonated sodas.

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