The most significant treatment for someone dealing with gastroesophageal reflux disease is dietary change.
What kinds of foods should be avoided if you have GERD? Menu items that are fatty, fried or oily should be avoided altogether. Citrus (oranges, lemons, tomatoes, etc.), acidic, and spicy seasonings can also irritate the stomach and should be limited. Other foods that should be restricted or avoided include mint, onions and garlic, and chocolate. If you don’t like the idea of giving up a certain type of food altogether, keep in mind that everyone is different. You should first try limiting your intake and see if it helps, or if it is better to not eat it at all.
What types of beverages are not good for people with GERD? Carbonated drinks and caffeine can irritate the stomach and should not be consumed by GERD patients. Whole milk or chocolate milk, alcohol, and some teas are also recommended to be limited.
Many websites recommend keeping a food diary to help you track what you should and shouldn’t eat. Record what you eat, when you eat, and any symptoms from the foods and use this to help you decide what foods make your GERD worse or better. Some other ideas to keep in mind are not lying down immediately after eating and to avoid chewing gum or hard candy. Lying down after eating increases the likelihood of stomach contents flowing backward into the esophagus and chewing gum or hard candy increase the amount of air swallowed, which in turn increases burping and reflux. The best way to eat when dealing with GERD is slowly and small quantities. Eating too fast can put stress on your stomach, so take your time when eating. Eating small meals more often as opposed to eating a couple large meals can also reduce the stress on your stomach, and therefore help with GERD.
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