GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, causes symptoms of heartburn, belching and nausea. It is caused by stomach acid washing back into the esophagus. Eating the right kinds of food can reduce the severity of symptoms.
Milk and Dairy
Choose skim milk or low-fat milk, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products like yogurt. Avoid chocolate milk, whole milk and foods made from whole milk.
Vegetables
Vegetables are good to eat on a GERD diet except for tomatoes. Do not fry vegetables or prepare them with added oil or whole milk.
Fruits
Fruits are good food for GERD diets except for pineapples, grapefruit and oranges. Eat berries, apples, bananas, melons, pears and peaches.
Meat
Eat lean mean and do not add fat while cooking. Avoid fatty meat like sausage, chicken skin and bacon.
Beverages
To lessen the risk of GERD symptoms, limit your beverages to decaffeinated tea, water and non-citrus juice. Avoid coffee, mint tea, soft drinks and alcohol.
Breads and Sweets
Choose breads, cereals and sweets that are low fat, or have less than three grams of fat per serving. Avoid chocolate and foods prepared with whole milk or added fat.
