Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, more commonly known as acid reflux, is a chronic digestive disorder that not only affects, but demands attention to the foods you eat. Some foods can increase the frequency or aggravate symptoms of this disease. If you have been diagnosed with GERD, it is important for you to be aware of these common triggers, because simple dietary adjustments can improve your health and quality of life.
About
GERD affects close to one-third of people living in the United States, says the National Center for Biotechnical Information. This common condition results in the backward flow of stomach acids and, sometimes, bile from the stomach to the esophagus. Over time, acid reflux can damage or inflame the lining of the esophagus, leading to a series of medical complications including the development of scar tissue, ulcerative erosions and even cancer, warns the Mayo Clinic.
Significance
As a digestive disease, GERD has the potential to affect and even restrict what you eat. Symptoms of this disease can include heartburn, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, regurgitation of food or acid, and the feeling of a lump in your throat, according to the Mayo Clinic. These symptoms may be exacerbated by the foods you are already eating. Alternately, some food choices may lessen or even resolve your symptoms. This makes it essential to evaluate your diet after being diagnosed with GERD so that you continue to maintain or improve your health and quality of life.
Features
Gastroenterologists or medical doctors who treat digestive diseases often recommend a low fat diet for patients diagnosed with GERD. High fat foods like oils, whole milk products, creamed foods or soups, as well as fried and most fast foods are known to aggravate acid reflux and symptoms of the disease, says Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Large or heavy meals may also increase pressure on the esophageal sphincter, the anatomical feature that separates the stomach from the esophagus, thus enabling the harmful backward flow of acid. As a result, most doctors and registered dietitians will recommend a diet comprising small, frequent meals. Overall, the GERD diet is easy to follow, minimally restrictive, and often healthier than the typical American diet, as it contains significantly less fat.
Restrictions
Dietary restrictions for patients with GERD are evidence-based recommendations that should be followed; however, individual responses and tolerances to some foods must also be considered as part of the diet. A list of common aggravators that should be avoided include caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea and soda, citrus fruits and juices including orange and grapefruit, whole milk products and other high fat foods, acidic foods like tomato and bell pepper, spicy foods as well as peppermint and spearmint says Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology.
Considerations
Consuming beverages during meals can aggravate acid reflux due to the buildup of pressure on the esophageal sphincter. You should determine how your body responds to liquid and eat or drink accordingly. Research dictates that individuals with GERD should avoid eating at least two to three hours before bedtime to reduce the frequency and symptoms of the disease, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. If you are overweight, it is highly recommend that you lose weight to help to reduce the pressure in your stomach, subsequently preventing reflux.
Warning
If you are treating this condition with proton-pump inhibitors, or PPIs, such as like Prilosec or Nexium, you should be aware that a side effect of long-term medication is vitamin B-12 deficiency. Your liver stores vitamin B-12, but over time, continued treatment with PPIs can cause decreased levels of vitamin B-12, leading to anemia, says Drugs.com. You should have your doctor monitor your vitamin B-12 level if you are receiving long-term treatment with these medications.
