GERD is caused by acid
refluxing from the stomach back up through the
sphincter (LES) between the stomach and the
esophagus. Usually, it is because the LES is
weakened and the stomach does not close off
adequately after eating. The stomach produces acid
anyway and if this is combined with eating foods
that further promote acid production or increase
the pressure on LES, GERD symptoms worsen. Four
underlying conditions are associated with
GERD:
1.
Decreased
LES pressure.
2.
Irritation
of the esophageal lining by contents of the
stomach.
3.
Abnormal
clearance of esophageal
acid.
4.
Delayed
stomach emptying.
Treatment
of GERD requires multi-factorial approach aimed at
dietary and lifestyle modifications as well as
drug therapy. Dietary modifications require that
certain foods will be avoided. They
are:
1.
Fried
and fatty foods trigger GERD. So either eliminate
these foods from the diet or limit them.
2.
Obesity
promotes reflux, so reducing total fat and caloric
intake by limiting calorie dense foods will help
weight reduction and relieve symptoms.
3.
Avoid
foods or fruits that have a high citrus or acid
content like oranges, lemons, grapefruits,
tomatoes, and
cranberry.
4.
Avoid
foods such as chocolate, peppermint, caffeinated
beverages like tea and coffee as well as alcohol.
Chocolate contains methylxanthine which reduces
LES pressure by causing relaxation of smooth
muscle.
5.
Whole
milk should be avoided. Other milk-based products
like sour cream, milk shakes, ice cream cottage
cheese should also be left
out.
6.
Meats
including beef, marbled sirloin, chicken nuggets,
Buffalo wings, cold cuts, sausages, bacon are best
avoided.
7.
Fast
foods eaten on the run are a major contributor to
the disease. Eating food in a rushed
environment means you do not chew properly which
makes them harder to digest. They are also loaded
with refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats
which are bad for
digestion.
8.
Peppermint,
spearmint, and carbonated drinks. These foods can
relax the LES causing
heartburn.
9.
Oil
and vinegar salad
dressings.
Changing
your eating habits and using acid reflux diet
foods may not treat you completely, but avoiding
foods that cause digestion problems can have a
dramatic effect on your lifestyle. But as
mentioned earlier, avoiding foods by itself is not
a treat. The root cause of GERD needs to be
eliminated which can be achieved by making
lifestyle changes, aerobic exercises, meditation,
stress management, maintaining emotional and
mental health. All these changes will help the
body heal itself and help relieve
symptoms.
