Diet for gastroesophageal reflux disease. What foods should not be eaten?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic disease in which gastric acid reflux into the esophagus. This causes characteristic symptoms and / or inflammatory changes in the esophageal mucosa, leading to a deterioration in the patients’ quality of life.

1. Check your health. Just answer these questions

What are the symptoms of reflux?

Common symptoms of the disease include heartburn and acid regurgitation. Other symptoms include epigastric pain, nausea and / or vomiting, weight loss, chest pain, chronic cough, hoarseness.

The main cause of the disease is the dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and transient spontaneous relaxation of this sphincter (TLESRs), as well as disturbances in esophageal motility, delayed gastric emptying, the presence of a hiatal hernia, psychological factors, and stress. Untreated acid reflux disease can lead to various complications, the most serious of which are Barrett’s esophagus (a precancerous lesion) and esophageal cancer.

Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease consists of pharmacological treatment combined with changes in diet and lifestyle.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and diet modification

Modification of diet and lifestyle brings a therapeutic effect with mild or moderate severity of symptoms of the disease. It aims to reduce the incidence of heartburn and its duration. In the case of high intensity of symptoms or accompanied by oesophagitis, pharmacotherapy is necessary (drugs that alkalize and increase the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter).

Check: Dietetics – characteristics, tasks, profession of a dietician

In the case of stomach ailments, you can reach for the red scotch cap, which has antibacterial properties.

Lifestyle and acid reflux disease

The presence of acid reflux disease and the severity of its symptoms may be related to your overall health and lifestyle. The risk factors for reflux include overweight and obesity, and the factors that influence the severity of symptoms include diet, stress, physical activity, smoking and drinking alcohol.

Overweight and obesity are risk factors for reflux, as well as diseases such as Barrett’s esophagus, erosive oesophagitis and esophageal adenoma. In the context of reflux, anatomical changes occurring in the abdominal cavity are important. Obese or overweight people should lose weight, because obesity is associated with an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, which exacerbates the disease.

It is recommended for the sick eating 5-6 small meals a day. They should be eaten in a calm atmosphere, at a slow pace (eating quickly increases the frequency of reflux episodes).

Check: Body Mass Index (BMI) – advantages and disadvantages of the indicator

Smoking cigarettes also increases the number of reflux episodes, so people with symptoms of acid reflux disease are advised to quit smoking. The habit of smoking is associated with difficulties in clearing the esophagus of acidic food. In addition, acid reflux into the esophagus occurs more frequently as a result of inhalation of cigarette smoke, coughing up secretions from the respiratory tract, or coughing.

Alcohol is another factor linking to the occurrence of reflux symptoms. Percentage drinks increase the secretion of gastric juice, and at the same time negatively affect the esophageal motility. Alcohol is also irritating to the esophageal mucosa, which can also aggravate the undesirable symptoms.

It is believed that ailments reduction can also be achieved through adopting the correct posture while sleeping and resting. It is recommended not to lie down immediately after meals. Raising the head of the bed by 15-20 cm helps to cleanse the esophagus more efficiently during sleep, which reduces disease symptoms.

1. See also: What is a peptic ulcer diet?

The symptoms of GERD worsen after strenuous physical exertion, frequent or prolonged bending down, or any physical activity performed immediately after a meal. It is therefore recommended to avoid this type of behavior. However, moderate physical activity is recommended, thanks to which the risk of disease is reduced.

Are you looking for a preparation that will effectively support digestion? Try Digestive Aid

Change in diet for gastroesophageal reflux disease

An important element of non-drug therapy in reflux disease is adherence to a proper diet. People with symptoms of GERD should avoid foods and foods that increase gastric acid secretion, lowering pressure in the LES, irritating the sensory receptors in the esophagus and delaying gastric emptying. These products include:

1. fatty, deep-fried and hard-to-digest products and dishes,
2. onions and onion vegetables, asparagus, artichokes, tomatoes and their preserves,
3. citrus fruits and juices from these fruits,
4. chocolate and chocolate products,
5. strong tea, coffee, mint infusion, carbonated drinks, alcohol,
6. hot spices (pepper, hot pepper, chilli, curry, vinegar, mustard).

The remaining products can be considered allowed in the patient’s diet.

In order to relieve heartburn, it is also recommended to drink skim milk or milk drinks or water (the best one with a high content of calcium ions).

It should be emphasized that the body’s reaction to certain foods is an individual feature. It may happen that the symptoms of the disease appear after products that are not mentioned in the text – which is why everyone the patient should observe the body’s reactions to various food products and eliminate from the diet those that cause or worsen discomfort.

Check: Diet in peptic ulcer disease – a visit to a dietitian, recommendations, recommended products

Diet in acid reflux disease – recommended products

People on a diet with reflux disease can freely consume the following products:

1. skim milk (up to 2%), yoghurts, skim curd, goat’s cheese and homogenized cheese;
2. lean fish and cold cuts, as well as lean meat prepared in the right way (stewed, baked in foil, boiled);
3. wheat bread and flour, rice, pasta, noodles, and fine groats such as couscous and semolina;
4. vegetables: lettuce, spinach, carrots, beetroot, pumpkin, but also peeled tomatoes (scalded) and potatoes (boiled, baked without fat or in the form of puree, but without the addition of butter);
5. some fruits in small amounts, e.g. bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, baked or cooked apples;
6. spices: salt, dill, oregano, vanilla, basil, sage, tarragon or rosemary;
7. desserts such as jellies, puddings, low-sugar jams, sponge cakes, mousses, jellies;
8. drinks: still water, weak tea, grain coffee, diluted fruit juices and fruit teas from permitted fruit, selected herbal infusions, e.g. lemon balm.

To improve digestive function and avoid reflux problems, drink an infusion of RefluxoHerbs, a herbal mixture containing sage leaf, horsetail herb, lemon balm leaf, calamus rhizome and chamomile basket.

See also: FODMAP diet – who is it for? Sample FODMAP menu

Diet in reflux disease – summary of the rules

In order to minimize the intensity of reflux disease symptoms and to support pharmacological dietary treatment, patients should follow the following rules:

1. eat easily digestible meals and avoid the products mentioned above, including spicy, very acidic, sweet, fatty and carbonated drinks;
2. eat small portions – it is recommended to eat 5 to 6 small meals a day at fixed times;
3. avoid irritation of the esophageal mucosa with hot dishes, it is advisable eating food at a moderate temperature;
4. eat the last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime;
5. give up alcohol;
6. do not lie down after a meal, and it is best to avoid lying down for up to 3 hours after eating;
7. in order to relieve reflux symptoms, you can reach for milk and still water.

Apart from the diet, the lifestyle is also important. It is worth remembering that:

1. sleep in such a position that the head is raised at an angle of 30 degrees;
2. give up smoking;
3. avoid stressful situations;
4. do not wear tight clothing;
5. remember about moderate physical activity, however, avoid exercise and positions that aggravate the symptoms of acid reflux disease;
6. if you are overweight or obese, weight reduction is recommended.

Check also:

1. The FODMAP diet in gastrointestinal disorders
2. The seven foods that stay in your intestines the longest
3. Cleansing the intestines – good eating habits, home remedies