Gerd Diet -- What To Eat and Not To Eat?

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Picture this.... after you chew and swallow your food, it flows down the food pipe (esophagus) and enters your stomach. A ring of muscle that is located at the bottom of your esophagus loosens up to allow food to move to your stomach.

This ring of muscle or lower esophageal sphincter acts like a valve that tightens up between swallows in order to stop the backing up of stomach contents into your esophagus.

GERD occurs when the sphincter does not close properly causing the stomach contents to back up into the esophagus.

This can result in pain and burning because the contents of the stomach usually contain a lot of acid and pepsin, which can cause irritation and even damage to the lining of your esophagus.

What You Eat Can Make Your Symptoms Worse

When you have a medical condition like GERD, what you eat is going to be important. In fact, with all medical conditions, food becomes an important part of a treatment plan. However, with GERD, which affects your digestive system, food is an even more important issue.

Foods to Avoid

Fatty and fried foods, peppermint and spearmint, whole milk, chocolate, creamed foods and soups, coffee, and tea should all be avoided because they all aggravate acid reflux.

Acidic foods that can irritate the lining of your esophagus including citrus juices and fruits such as tomato juice, grapefruit and orange juice should be limited. It is also recommended to limit spicy foods.

Foods to Eat

Doctors and dieticians suggest that fresh vegetables and fruits such as peaches, bananas, and pears, a variety of melons and berries and apples -- should be included in your GERD diet.

Experts also suggest to include low fat breads, grains, herbal teas, and juices except for citrus and tomato juices, some varieties of low fat soups and fat free soups.

• Suggestions for breakfast include whole grain cereals, apple juice, bananas, and jam.
• Lunch suggestions include items such as vegetable soup, lean beef, fruit salad (no citrus fruit) or a green leafy salad with no tomatoes.
• For dinner you might choose to have a green leafy salad, skinless chicken breast, brown rice, whole grain bread, and a variety of vegetables.
• For dessert, you might want to choose a low fat frozen yogurt

If you follow your doctor's recommendation on foods to avoid, you might be able to reduce your GERD symptoms. If you are interested in creating a customized GERD diet for yourself or someone you know suffering from the condition, then you will want to speak to your doctor or even with a nutritionist. They will be able to work with you in designing a treatment plan that is perfectly suited to you and your condition and which is going to benefit you the most.

Please Note

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It is important to emphasize that you should not reject mainstream medical attention and guidance and the use of recommended products, treatments, and remedies for individual disorder should be approved and monitored by your health care provider. See disclaimer for more!