GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, can cause frequent painful heartburn. Often, these symptoms arise an hour or two after eating certain foods. Those who suffer from GERD are urged to change certain lifestyle habits, such as smoking or exercising after eating. Making positive changes to your diet may provide some relief.
Alterations in LES Pressure
The lower esophageal sphincter is a valve that separates the stomach from the lower end of the esophagus, commonly known as the windpipe.This valve opens to allow food to pass into the stomach, and closes to prevent digestive juices from surging up through the esophagus. Several foods and beverages have been known to affect the ability of the lower esophageal sphincter to close constrict enough to prevent reflux, the condition where in fluids pass back up from the stomach into the esophagus. It is this reflux that leads to the feeling of heart burn as stomach acids corrode the lining of the esophagus. The University of Illinois McKinley Health Center reports that a chemical found in chocolate, called methylxanthine has been shown to decrease LES pressure and increase the risk of acid reflux. Caffeinated beverages and alcohol can also prompt a lowering of LES pressure in some people, thus triggering attacks of GERD.
Altered Gastric Pressure
Eating heavy meals can increase the pressure in the stomach and subsequently increase the likelihood that stomach contents will be expelled upward into the esophagus. For this reason the University of Arizona Campus Health Service recommends eating smaller meals in order to reduce the stress on the lower esophageal sphincter.Fatty foods are particularly prone to triggering episodes of gastroesophageal reflux as they are heavy and slow to digest.The longer a food remains in the stomach, the more likely it is that increased pressure in the stomach will lead to an acid reflux attack.Low fat diets are recommended for GERD patients. Carbonated beverages can increase the pressure in the stomach as well, and may be an irritant for those with acid reflux.
Changes in Stomach Acids
People who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease are urged to avoid acidic foods that may aggravate the lining of the esophagus when acid reflux occurs. Though most fruits and vegetables are fine for GERD sufferers, a few contain high amounts of acid and may aggravate GERD symptoms. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions and garlic are included in this group.
Coffee drinkers who suffer from GERD are advised to find an alternative for their favorite morning beverage, as even decaffeinated coffees can be a GERD trigger, due to the high acid content, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
