GERD Diet Recommendations

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a fairly common condition in which acid or bile salts from the stomach back up into the esophagus, which can cause burning from the chest to the esophagus up to the throat. The Mayo Clinic estimates that more than 17 million Americans suffer from GERD, also known as acid reflux, as of 2009. Eating a GERD-friendly diet can help many people alleviate the discomfort associated with this condition.

Causes

GERD occurs when stomach acid leaks out through a weakened or abnormally functioning lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is responsible for keeping the acids in your stomach from splashing up into your esophagus, but when you have GERD, the LES is unable to perform its job adequately. This can cause burning of the esophagus and throat over time.

Symptoms

GERD symptoms range from mild to severe, and greatly vary from person to person. The most common symptom is heartburn, which is a burning pain sensation felt anywhere from the middle of the breastbone up to the back of the throat. For most people, though, heartburn centers in the middle chest/lower esophageal area. The pain can be sharp or dull, and can sometimes feel more like heavy pressure than actual burning. Symptoms often present themselves after meals.

Other symptoms include hoarseness, sore throat, nausea, laryngitis, chronic dry cough (especially at night), bad breath, asthma, earaches and the feeling of a lump in the throat. In children, GERD can cause recurrent vomiting, coughing, trouble breathing and failure to thrive.

Diet Recommendations

There are a number of foods that can soothe the symptoms of GERD. Skim, 1 percent or 2 percent milk is desirable over whole milk, and decaffeinated herbal teas and juices are ideal. Water is the least offensive liquid, so drink plenty of H2O when you can. Low-fat breads and whole grains are easier to digest than bleached white flours and sugars. Fresh fruits and vegetables are better than fried or processed versions. If you are having bad nausea, clear broths and soups can also be very soothing.

You should avoid all the foods that you probably already know are bad for you, including fried foods, alcohol, fatty foods and sugary foods. Also avoid chocolate, coffee and anything with mint in it---these are all particular irritants. Not only will this help balance out your digestive process, but it can also help you lose weight. Many overweight people find that shedding a few pounds can help relieve the symptoms of GERD because the LES can perform better under less stress.