If you often feel burning in your chest after you eat, you may have GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is a common disorder caused by the regurgitation of stomach acid into the esophagus due to a spontaneous opening of the lower esophageal sphincter. Making changes to your diet can help you manage your symptoms.
Diet Guidelines
The diet for GERD requires you to make changes to what and how you eat. To prevent over-filling your stomach, eat smaller meals more frequently. You should also avoid foods high in fat, such as fried foods, to prevent delays in stomach emptying. Depending on your tolerance, you may also need to avoid citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato products, chocolate, caffeine and alcohol. If you are overweight, losing weight by following a reduced-calorie diet can also improve your symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how many calories you need to eat each day to reach your goal weight. The following menu is based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
Breakfast
A breakfast menu for GERD may include a hard-cooked egg, one slice of whole wheat toast with 1 tsp. of margarine, 1/2 cup of apple juice and 1 cup of nonfat yogurt. Eat meals and snacks in an upright position to help minimize your symptoms.
Morning Snack
For a morning snack, try a small banana with 1 cup of nonfat milk. Chewing non-mint gum after eating produces saliva and can help reduce acid in the esophagus. Keeping a food journal to monitor your diet and your symptoms can help you determine which foods exacerbate your symptoms.
Lunch
A sample lunch meal may include a turkey sandwich with 2 oz. of lean deli turkey meat on two slices of whole wheat bread with 1 tsp. of mayonnaise, served with 1 cup of carrot and celery sticks with 1 tbsp. of low-fat ranch dressing, 1/2 cup of applesauce and 1 cup of nonfat yogurt. In addition to limiting reflux symptoms, choosing more low-fat and nonfat food items can also help you reduce your calorie intake for weight loss.
Afternoon Snack
For an afternoon snack, you can have 1/2 cup of grapes with five whole grain crackers and 1½ tsp. of peanut butter. Wearing tight clothes can also increase your GERD symptoms, so wear more loose-fitting clothing.
Dinner
For dinner on your GERD menu, try 2.5 oz. of broiled chicken breast with 1 cup of cooked brown rice and 1½ cups of green beans sauteed in 2 tsp. of olive oil. Wait at least three hours after your dinner meal before going to bed.
