The GERD Diet: A Guide to Stopping Acid Reflux in Its Tracks
Sometimes we wish that all ailments could be fixed with medication— or at least simple lifestyle changes. It may help you to lose weight and avoid your triggers, but, ultimately, the cause of your GERD symptoms is a weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Unfortunately, some of our patients simply cannot have invasive surgeries or physical procedures. For these individuals (and those who wish to reduce their symptoms, not eliminate them), we recommend that they start with the GERD diet and by making simple switches from known triggers to acid reflux friendly meals.
How to Prevent Acid Reflux With A GERD Diet
It’s important to keep in mind that every patient’s experience with food will be slightly different. For this reason, we recommend that you keep a personal food log or journal to keep track of your dietary inputs and symptoms. If you are able to make a correlation between certain foods and the severity of your GERD symptoms, this detective work will be invaluable in the management of your disease.
Acid Reflux Friendly Meals - Breakfast
The majority of Americans start their day with a cup of coffee. If you struggle with acid reflux, it may be best to swap out your early cup of joe for a cup of decaffeinated tea. Additionally, many of our patients find that fruit juices like orange and grapefruit aggravate their reflux symptoms. Try to substitute these beverages for lighter juices like apple or a glass of milk.
To build your repertoire of breakfast meals, reach for whole grains and foods high in fiber. Oatmeal, fresh fruit, toast are all great ideas, but try to stay away from high-sugar foods, fatty breakfast meats, and high-acid fruits.
Some patients choose to try intermittent fasting to help them avoid early morning reflux; on the other hand, fasting when you aren’t used to it can cause an anticipatory increase in stomach acid, leading to worsening symptoms. Listen to your body and make adjustments to your routine as necessary.
Diet for GERD - Lunch
When it comes to lunchtime, less is best. Many of our GERD patients find that several smaller meals spread out throughout the day aggravates their symptoms much less. When you plan your lunches, try to pick foods that you know are safe: grains, vegetables, lean meats, and low-acid fruits. Try to stay away from fatty side dishes or foods made with mayonnaise or fried in oil. If you have a sweet treat with lunch, avoid chocolate and limit the sugar intake as much as you can without feeling cheated!
Dinner - What Foods Are Bad for Heartburn?
This is the toughest meal of all— especially if you love a good glass of wine with your dinner or you are a lover of steaks! As before, it’s highly recommended that you avoid high-fat foods; these types of foods can increase and worsen your heartburn symptoms. Reach for lighter foods like salads with a nut or water-based dressing. If you have a drink with dinner, try to keep it simple and avoid carbonation.
See a Reflux Specialist in Tampa Bay
If you’re looking for some specific recipes, we recommend the ideas in our previous post: Diet For Acid Reflux: 10 Meal Plan Ideas To Get You Losing Weight. If you haven’t yet begun discussions with a reflux specialist about your GERD, now is the time! Here at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we want you to live your best life— without worrying about what you need to eat or not eat. Sometimes, the only effective way to do that is by physically addressing your GERD issue. Contact our team of experts for more information today.