How to Use Diet to Treat GERD

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, simply known as GERD, results when the lower esophagus fails to prevent stomach acid from backwashing, causing the typical symptoms of heartburn and tightening across the chest. However, since there are some foods that contribute to weakening the muscle surrounding the esophagus, it makes sense to use diet as a natural way to treat GERD. Fortunately, a diet designed to treat GERD is very easy to swallow.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Chew on any raw vegetable that you can tolerate. Steamed veggies are O.K. too, but avoid batter-dipped and fried or creamed-style vegetables.
2. Reach for milk that is labeled low-fat, skim, or 1- to 2-percent milk fat. Leave chocolate-flavored milk to the kids and whole milk to baby cows.
3. Consume lean forms of protein on your GERD diet, such as skinless chicken, fish and turkey. However, cut out cold cuts, sausage, bacon and meats with a high-fat content, such as hamburger and certain cuts of beef.
4. Eat plenty of fresh fruits, except those known to be highly acidic, such as oranges, grapefruit and pineapple. For this reason, you may want to consider supplementing your diet with vitamin C tablets.
5. Butter your bread as long as the bread isn't made with whole milk and the spread is low-fat or fat-free.
6. Skip all caffeinated (and coffee altogether, decaffeinated or not) and all carbonated beverages. Tea is acceptable, providing it doesn't contain mint.
7. Satisfy your sweet tooth with snacks and deserts that are low in fat. Sorry, but chocolate is out.
8. Sip clear soups that are low in fat and avoid those that are cream based or made from meat stock, such as chicken (because of the skin) or beef.

Tips & Warnings

• Eat smaller meals throughout the day instead of three large ones.
• Discuss your specific dietary needs with your physician before setting out to use diet to treat GERD on your own. In fact, your doctor may direct you to a nutritionist to assist you, particularly if you have other medical conditions to consider, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
• Avoid bending over or lying down for 30 minutes to an hour after eating.
• Forget about fast foods--all fast foods. This includes those so-called healthy salads being offered by some fast food restaurants, which can actually contain more fat in the dressing than in the burgers from the grill.
• Pass on the gum and hard candy, which encourage you to swallow air and produce a belch accompanied with acid reflux.

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