GERD: What to Eat

GERD: What to Eat

Acid reflux that’s a chronic problem and can cause irritation and even damage to the stomach, throat, and gastro-intestinal system. GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter (or LES), which is the ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach, often allowing stomach acids to regurgitate back up into the esophagus and throat. While some foods worsen the condition, some foods improve GERD and are excellent for your overall health as well. Following these foods can help you get some relief:

1. Dairy products
Dairy products that are low in fat, like low-fat buttermilk, low-fat milk, and fat-free yogurt can be a good replacement for the trigger foods for GERD. However, avoid dairy products like milkshakes and whole milk products.

2. Desserts
While doctors recommend eliminating desserts from your diet, certain foods like low-fat cookies, sponge cakes and pastries, and gluten-free desserts can be consumed. Moreover, you can also have most fruits as desserts. However, avoid cookies, cakes, and ice creams that are fatty and contain carbs or milk.

3. Fats
Items like mayo, liquid creamer, and cream cheese can be consumed only if they are low in fat in case you have chronic GERD. If it is not easy to skip the fat, try limiting it gradually to get rid of the habit of eating fatty food. You can start by replacing your butter with low-fat butter. Once your body is tuned to this, it will be easier to eliminate fat from your diet.

4. Fruits
Usually, fresh, frozen, or canned fruits are best to avoid the chances of GERD. You can easily eat frozen fruits like blueberries and cranberries. They would not cause any harm to your digestive system, especially if consumed while they are frozen.

5. Meat
Switch to finely-cooked meat, skinned poultry, or fresh fish. However, low-fat hot dogs, shellfish, tofu, beans, and dried nuts are some of the chief food items to avoid the side-effects, as they are among the trigger foods for GERD.

You must try to avoid raw meat, fish, poultry, and sausages, as they cause heartburn.

6. Soups
Homemade soups are a great option, as they would have no added sugar or preservatives. It can include lean meat or green leafy vegetables to improve digestion. Otherwise, any soup free from whole milk and fat would be great, too. One such example is broth soup with no fatty ingredients. Avoid full cream and tomato soups, as these could lead to GERD.

6. Other food items
Add salt, sage, decaffeinated coffee or tea, and tea without mint to improve your health. You have to remember that not every product or food item discussed would work for everyone.