GERD Diet – What it Can Do For You and Your Heartburn

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a very common disorder and millions of people across the globe have been suffering from this disease, which is caused when the stomach contents along with the digestive acids in the stomach reflux back into the esophagus. Apart from drug therapy and lifestyle modifications, doctors also recommend using the correct diet to ease the symptoms of heart burn. This is because there exists a very strong relationship between acid reflux disease and diet. Such a diet, which includes foods that help ease the symptoms of heartburn, is known as a GERD diet. In fact, apples for acid reflux prevention have been in use since historical times. Similarly, doctors recommend a lot of other foods to eat with acid reflux.

Usually a GERD diet includes a list of foods to eat with acid reflux. Such a list of food items is provided below –

Fruits:

Apart from apples for acid reflux prevention, several other fresh fruits such as apples (either in raw or cooked form), bananas, berries, melons, peaches, pears, and almost all other varieties of fruits with the exception of a few varieties such as oranges, grape fruit, pineapple are considered extremely safe since they do not trigger any heartburn or GERD symptoms in the body.

Vegetables:

Fresh vegetables such as beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, green peas, potato (in baked form), and almost all other varieties of fruits with the exception of a few varieties such as the tomatoes, are also considered relatively safe and are not likely to cause GERD symptoms at all.

Rice and breads section:

Among the rice and breads section, those food items which help stop heartburn include brown or white rice, brown bread or white bread, oatmeal, cornflakes, bread made out of corn flour, are considered extremely safe and have no potential for causing acid reflux in your body.

Dairy:

There is a great example to explain the relationship between acid reflux disease and diet – when GERD patients drink whole milk or chocolate milk topped with extra cream, they immediately start experiencing the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux. Therefore, people with GERD must strictly avoid drinking whole milk or chocolate milk as these drinks can aggravate the acid reflux symptoms. Instead, they may safely use items like skimmed milk, low fat yoghurt, low fat cheese, low fat creams, which are considered extremely safe since they do not trigger any heartburn or GERD symptoms in the body at all.

Non-vegetarian foods:

Non-vegetarian food items such as lean meat, skinless chicken breast, fish (with no extra added fat in it), turkey, egg white, etc, are also considered relatively safe and are not likely to cause GERD symptoms. However, items such as fat laden meat, chicken (with skin), bacon, etc should be avoided by people suffering from GERD to stop heartburn problem.

Soups and Deserts:

The basic rule is to avoid oily and spicy foods to relieve the symptoms of GERD. One must also avoid chocolate, and sweets which are laden with excessive oil and sugar. However, if you cannot do without dessert or sweets, then you may go for low fat and sugar-free or low sugar alternatives containing natural sweeteners, which will not aggravate your acid reflux symptoms. Even cream laden soups, are strictly not recommended. You must stick on with clear soups, which do not contain any chicken or beef fat in it if you are suffering from acid reflux.

Drinks and Juices:

There is another great example to explain the relationship between acid reflux disease and diet – people drinking tea, coffee, alcohol, or citric fruit juices are commonly found to be suffering from acid reflux. When they discontinue using such foods which aggravate the symptoms, then the symptoms are seen to subside temporarily. Therefore, people who are suffering from acid reflux problem must avoid citrus fruits and fruit juices to stop heartburn. However, they may drink juices prepared from non-citrus fruits. Juice of apples for acid reflux prevention is very popular. GERD patients must also avoid heavily caffeinated drinks, herbal tea containing mint, cloves, or other spices, or even carbonated soft drinks, as all of these items are grossly responsible for aggravating the symptoms of acid reflux in the body.

Millions of people have observed an improvement in their condition through the use of a GERD diet. So, if you suffer from GERD, why not stick to this kind of a diet and include different foods to eat with acid reflux and observe whether you experience any positive change yourself.