Acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion and related symptoms are all common issues that can lead to significant discomfort and distress. People with an especially severe condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, sometimes must contend with acid reflux multiple times per week and often look to their diets for solutions. By learning more about reflux trigger foods and choosing healthy alternatives, it's possible to ease or even eliminate many GERD symptoms.
Explanation
To better prevent acid reflux, it's helpful to understand how it happens. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, acid reflux happens when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus. Normally, the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, muscle, acts as a protective barrier between the esophagus and the stomach. However, when the LES muscle relaxes or opens for a period of time, acid reflux occurs.
Trigger Foods
Some foods have a greater chance of causing acid reflux than others. A few of these "trigger foods" tend to irritate the LES muscle and cause a burning sensation in the esophagus. Others cause the LES muscle to relax, making it weaker and raising the chance that it will spontaneously open. According to the NDDIC, the most common trigger foods include fatty foods, fried foods, citrus fruits, chocolate, mint, caffeinated drinks, alcoholic drinks, spicy foods, tomatoes, onions and garlic. The Pediatric/Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association notes that many children and teens with reflux also have issues with creamy foods, tea, broccoli, cabbage, leafy greens, cauliflower and beans.
Healthy Diet
While a few trigger foods, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits and onions, are healthy and have a high nutritional value, most have high calorie and fat contents and do not offer many nutritional benefits. Thus, it can be helpful for acid reflux sufferers to follow a healthy diet as recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture's food pyramid. Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology clinic also notes that low-fat or fat-free dairy products, broth-based soups, lean meats, most vegetables and fruits, low-fat or fat-free desserts and most grains are all appropriate for the majority of reflux patients.
Further Relief
For the most profound relief, it's best to combine a healthy acid reflux prevention diet with other methods of treatment. The Mayo Clinic suggests that GERD patients and people who suffer from frequent reflux wear loose, comfortable clothing; try eating small meals instead of large meals; refrain from smoking; elevate the heads of their beds with bricks or bed wedges; refrain from lying down for several hours after eating and attempt to lose weight if they are overweight.
Risk
Since everyone with frequent acid reflux is sensitive to different trigger foods, there is no defined acid reflux diet that is guaranteed to provide relief. Thus, it's worthwhile to experiment with preparing a wide variety of meals and snacks, paying close attention to the body's reaction to different foods and reacting accordingly by avoiding foods that seem to trigger reflux. If a prevention diet doesn't seem to help, patients may need to supplement with antacid medications or even consult with a gastroenterologist about surgery or other treatment options.
References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: MyPyramid.gov - Inside the Pyramid
- Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Diet
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Pediatric/Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association
- Mayo Clinic: GERD - Lifestyle and Home Remedies
