Between the stomach and food pipe sits a ring of muscles known as the lower esophageal sphincter. Whenever you eat or drink, it opens to allow swallowed food and liquid to pass into your stomach. Sometimes, however, these muscles don't close properly, and stomach contents flow back into your esophagus. This irritates the lining of the esophageal wall, triggering undesirable symptoms like heartburn, sore throat, sour taste and chest pain. If this occurs more than twice a week, you're suffering from a digestive disorder known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. One way to alleviate GERD symptoms is to modify your diet.
Dietary Modifications
For some people, making modifications to their diet can help minimize the symptoms associated with GERD. Fatty foods are one of the more common triggers for GERD, but you may also experience discomfort after eating foods made with garlic, onions, mint, chocolate and most citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits. Spicy foods and tomato-based products, like salsa, marinara, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and chili, can be problematic as well.
Fluid Control
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, it also isn't uncommon for people suffering from GERD to have issues with both caffeine and alcohol. Limiting your intake of soda, coffee, tea, beer, wine and mixed drinks can often minimize symptoms of this chronic condition.
Eating Habits
Besides modifying your diet, you can sometimes reduce symptoms of GERD by making changes in the way you eat. Instead of eating three regular-size meals, try having a number of smaller meals throughout the day, advises the American College of Gastroenterology. Smaller meals don't fill the stomach full, which makes the contents of your stomach less likely to flow back into your esophagus.
Caloric Restriction
Another way of minimizing symptoms associated with GERD is losing excess weight. When you're overweight or obese, you're actually placing undue pressure on the stomach. This pressure can cause stomach acids to back flow into the esophagus. By restricting your caloric consumption, you can generate a caloric deficit, which encourages weight loss. As you shed the excess pounds, you may begin to notice fewer symptoms of this chronic condition.
Medical Intervention
It should also be mentioned that dietary modifications don't treat or cure this digestive disorder; they only reduce symptoms of the condition. If you don't see an improvement in GERD after changing your diet, eating habits or weight, talk to a health care provider. Medical professionals can recommend medications and medical procedures to treat GERD.
References
- Mayo Clinic: GERD
- National Institutes of Health: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- American College of Gastroenterology: Heartburn Or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
