GERD is gastroesophageal reflux disease which is also known as having acid reflux. When you have GERD it means that the food you eat mixes with stomach fluids and comes back up into the esophagus and causes pain and heartburn. The acids and pepsins from the stomach used to digest the foods can cause inflammation and irritation of the esophagus. This is known as GERD. The reason the acid backs up into the esophagus is due to the esophageal sphincter not closing the way it should after a meal. This allows the acid to flow upwards. Unfortunately our esophagus’ are not made to handle such harsh acidic conditions as our stomachs are, this is why it is so painful. Usually once a person is diagnosed with having GERD it is something that the person will battle with for years to come. Having an occasional heartburn is not the same as having GERD. Occasional heartburn or acid reflux is common after eating a meal that is too large or a meal that contains extremely spicy foods. However, for some people GERD is something that occurs after every meal.
For people that suffer from GERD, lifestyle changes may be the best way to deal with the condition. Finding a diet that suits you may become a challenge for some but there are some foods that are more likely to trigger an acid reflux episode than others. Learning what foods to stay away from and what foods are safe can really help you manage your pain after meals. There are some foods that you may be eating now that you would not guess could cause such pain after eating.
The key is to stay away from foods that contain a lot of grease, fat, acid or spice. I know for some this may sound like your entire diet, but there are ways to still eat tasty foods and stay away from the dangerous foods. When it comes to fruits and vegetables you need to stay away from the ones that cause the most damage. Fruits and fruit juices to avoid include citrus, tomato, and cranberry. Fruits that you may be able to digest are apples, bananas, grapes, pears, peaches, prunes, apricots and other berries. Stay away from raw onions, lots of fresh garlic, very buttery mashed potatoes, any type of fried food, including French fries. Also watch out for hot sauces and spices that contain a lot of heat. Meat can also cause pain in some people depending on how it’s prepared to be careful not to eat fried chicken, breaded meats or meats seasoned to heavily.
For some people you can still have some of your favorite foods it just means you need to limit the amount you have. Over-indulging in any of these foods will cause a lot of pain for most GERD sufferers. Some beverages to limit would be coffees, teas, alcohol and milk. Dairy can upset the stomachs of some GERD sufferers. Cream cheese, feta cheese and goat cheese all seem to sit well with most people. Foods that are usually safe are beans, whole grains, pasta noodles, rice and cereals. Try sticking with all low-fat foods. Foods that are high in fat and take longer to digest cause the most problems. There are still plenty of foods that you can enjoy it just becomes important to stay away from the main foods that trigger acid reflux. Also preparing foods differently can help a lot. Instead of frying foods try baking, steaming or using less seasoning on them.
With time and effort you can make some changes in your diet that may help you suffer less from GERD. Be sure to keep track of foods that cause you to have an acid reflux problem so you can avoid them next time or learn to prepare them differently.
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