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Foods to Avoid With Barrett's Esophagus

Jun 24, 2011 | By Erica Roth

Barrett's esophagus is an abnormality in the color and quality of the cells in your esophagus. You are most likely to develop the condition if you suffer from chronic gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or GERD. GERD causes feelings of heartburn and acid indigestion. The acid that flows into your esophagus can damage the lining, leading to Barrett's esophagus. The foods you avoid to prevent heartburn are the same items you should eliminate from your diet for Barrett's esophagus.

Acidic and Spicy Foods

Acidic and spicy foods are irritants, both to your throat and your stomach. You may have noticed that drinking orange juice hurts when you are sick with a sore throat. Avoid these irritants to relieve some of the symptoms of Barrett's esophagus. Acidic and spicy foods include citrus fruits, tomato-based products and foods prepared with hot spices like cayenne, chili, jalapeno or curry. Garlic and onion, while not acidic, may also irritate your throat and cause reflux.

Fatty Foods

Avoid fatty foods when you exhibit signs of Barrett's esophagus. Fried foods, baked foods that contain lots of butter and other foods that have a high fat content can increase your symptoms in two ways. Fat can weaken your lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, the muscle that usually closes tight to separate your esophagus from your stomach. When the LES muscle weakens, it opens up and allows acids to travel up your throat. You also digest fat more slowly than other types of foods; allowing the fat to sit in your digestive tract for longer periods of time can increase your chances of reflux.

Caffeine and Alcohol

Caffeine and alcohol can relax the LES, leading to increased acid reflux. Cut back on beverages that contain either one of these substances. Johns Hopkins Pathology reminds patients to look at the size of your morning cup of coffee; your normal mug may actually be oversized and your daily cuppa joe could be giving you two to three times the amount of caffeine than your body can handle. Peppermint, an ingredient often found in candies and teas, should also be avoided, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Portion Control

Portion control plays a role in treatment for Barrett's esophagus in addition to the specific foods you should avoid. Eating a large meal puts more pressure on your stomach, making acids more likely to flow back up toward your esophagus, thus irritating your throat even more. Being overweight can do the same. Eat six mini-meals throughout the day instead of three large meals, but finish eating two to three hours before going to bed. Maintain a healthy weight to avoid exacerbating your problem.

References

Article reviewed by JudithT Last updated on: Jun 24, 2011

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