Gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD, occurs when the stomach acid come up into the esophagus. Symptoms of GERD include heartburn, sore throat and difficulties with swallowing, as well as pain in your chest and sensations of something in your throat, explains MayoClinic.com. Certain foods often trigger GERD, and this may cause difficulties with meal planning. If you decide to eat a healthy diet or lose weight, your condition may create an added obstacle, but one you can conquer with the right plan.
Step 1
Avoid foods that may trigger GERD symptoms. Common items that trigger these symptoms include onions, chocolate, alcohol and caffeine, reports MayoClinic.com. Citrus and tomatoes may also trigger the condition. You may have different food triggers than another person with GERD. In order to determine the foods that cause you discomfort, keep a food journal. Make notes of how you feel after each meal. After a few weeks you may have enough information to determine which foods trigger your symptoms.
Step 2
Decrease fat intake. Reducing your fat intake will benefit your overall health, especially if you choose healthy fats and oils, such as olive oil. This will also help reduce episodes of GERD since fried foods and other foods high in fat tend to increase the risk of GERD symptoms, explains the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Step 3
Eat small meals. Large meals may increase pressure in the stomach and result in episodes of GERD, says the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Instead, eat small, low-fat meals; you may also wish to add an extra meal to your day in order to prevent hunger and snacking.
Tips and Warnings
- Reducing your weight through diet and exercise will often help reduce the severity of GERD symptoms.
