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Best Foods For GERD

By admin | February 11, 2009

Gastroesophagael Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition that occurs when the muscle dividing the esophagus and the stomach relaxes inappropriately allowing the acidic contents of the stomach to flow into the esophagus. This condition can potentially cause significant damage to the lining of the esophagus. Whilst food may not be a contributory factor in all cases of GERD, for some GERD sufferers modifications to their diet can have a positive impact on their GERD symptoms. If you think that certain foods may be triggering your symptoms then it is important that you develop an understanding of the best foods for GERD.

To a large extent the best foods for GERD is a healthy low fat diet that is low in highly acidic foods.

It is advisable for GERD sufferers to keep their fat intake to a minimum. This is due to the fact that fatty foods take a long time to digest forcing the stomach to produce relatively large amounts of acid in order to aid digestion.

For some GERD sufferers highly acidic foods such as lemons, oranges, limes, peppers and raw onions can trigger unpleasant symptoms becuase they can increase the level of acidity in the stomach. You need to establish whether specific fruits and vegetables are responsible for triggering symptoms before you eliminate them from your diet. You can do this by keeping a diary of your food drink intake and any symptoms that you are experiencing. You then need to establish if there is any correlation between your food drink consumption and your symptoms.

In addition to fatty and acidic foods, you may find that things like spicy foods, chocolate, peppermint, drinks containing caffeine, carbonated drinks and alcohol can set off your sypmtoms. Any foods or drink culprits that you identify will have to elimated from your diet if you want to manage your symptoms effectively.

So, less about what you might not be able to eat and more about the best foods for GERD. It is really important that your diet contains plenty of complex carbohydrates. This includes foods such as: grains preferably (wholegrains), peas, beans, cereals, wholemeal bread, brown rice and fruits. Complex carboydrates should make up roughly half of your daily calorie intake. These foods are good for GERD sufferers because they have the capacity to absord acidic juices in the stomach. They also contain fiber which generally assists the digestive process. Another important fact about complex carbohydrates is that they have a tendency to make you feel fuller for longer. This means that you may be less likely to eat very large amounts of food in one serving which could put pressure on the stomach and, in turn, trigger an episode of GERD.

As you have seen above, drinks can cause difficulties for GERD sufferers. Try and make water your main drink of the day.

The best foods for GERD are those foods that should be included in any healthy diet. By adjusting your diet to include a large number of foods that contain complex carbohydrates coupled with foods that are low in fat, you will not only be working towards managing your GERD symptoms but you will be positively addressing your overall wellbeing.

Topics: Acid Reflux, Diet for Heartburn, Heartburn, gerd | No Comments »

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