Liquid Diet for Reflux

According to the Mayo Clinic, an estimated 17 million Americans suffer from symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux.
Surgery may be needed if medication and lifestyle changes do not relieve symptoms. After surgery, your surgeon may prescribe a liquid diet while tissues are healing.

Causes

GERD symptoms result from frequent acid reflux, with stomach acid backing up into the esophagus.

Risk Factors

The following factors increase your chances of developing acid reflux: being overweight, hiatal hernia, smoking, diabetes, a decrease in saliva production and pregnancy.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary, but may include:

Heartburn
Sour taste in the mouth
Swallowing difficulties
Hoarseness
Cough
Chest pain

Treatment

Over the counter antacids or H-2 blockers can help reduce acid production, but if symptoms are not relieved, prescription medications may be prescribed.

Lifestyle Changes

Your doctor may suggest avoiding spicy foods, caffeine consumption and losing weight if necessary.

Elevating the head of your bed may keep stomach acid from backing up into the esophagus.

Surgery

A Nissen fundoplication is the most commonly performed surgery for acid reflux, and involves wrapping the distal esophagus with the upper part of the stomach.

Liquid Diet

To give tissues a chance to heal, your surgeon may order a clear liquid diet after surgery.

Clear liquids provide essential nutrients, and are easily digested. No residue is left in the intestinal tract and the digestive system can rest and heal.

You may drink fruit juices without the pulp, and sip clear broth and bouillon.
Enjoy clear soft drinks, water, coffee, and tea for your beverages.

To satisfy your sweet tooth, eat flavored gelatin, fruit ice and clear, hard candy.

For most patients, the clear liquid diet is discontinued after five days.

Full Liquid Diet

If you're not quite ready to resume a regular diet, a full liquid diet may be prescribed.

All fruit juices and nectars are allowed, but now you can add milkshakes, eggnog, ice cream, custard or pudding.

Eat strained cream soups, and for breakfast enjoy farina, grits, oatmeal, cream of wheat or cream of rice with added margarine or cream.

The full liquid diet provides sufficient calcium, but is deficient in iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A and thiamine, so patients do not stay on the diet for long periods.

Swallowing Difficulties

Swallowing difficulties in acid reflux patients occur when food or liquid stop in the esophagus, as a result of excessive backup of stomach acid.

Liquids are usually easier to swallow, and daily intake should be 6 to 8 cups. Thickening agents can be added if thin liquids are hard to swallow.

If the patient is drinking less than 4 cups of thickened fluid a day, or has not progressed to thin liquids within a four-week period, extra monitoring by the medical team may be needed.

Maintaining Calories

It's hard to maintain a sufficient calorie intake on a liquid diet, but by fortifying foods that the patient eats, calorie and protein intake can be increased.

One cup of powdered milk can be added to liquid milk, and used in cream soups, milkshakes, and puddings. For extra calories, add margarine, sugar, honey or pureed baby food.

Mix strained baby meats with strained vegetables and add to gravies and sauces.

Fortify juices, milkshakes and cooked cereals by adding strained baby fruit

Safe Swallowing

These are general guidelines for safe swallowing, but patient needs may vary.

Eat in an upright position.

Take small bites.

Slowly eat one food at a time.

Tuck chin to chest and bend body forward while swallowing, as this keeps food from going into your airway.

After eating, stay seated in an upright position for at least 30 to 45 minutes.