Watching what you eat will, more than likely, be a staple part of your GERD diet if you are someone who suffers from the condition. Certain foods trigger the reaction which causes the pain to rise, so with having GERD, foods to avoid is important knowledge.
GERD, which stands for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease, is a condition more commonly known as acid reflux. The reflux part of the equation is when the contents of the stomach, predominantly acid, washes back through the valve which should be protecting the esophagus from the stomach.
Usually that valve, or the lower esophageal sphincter as it’s known, isn’t doing its job properly through illness or poor lifestyle. Certain pressures can mean that it stays open, when usually it only opens as part of the swallowing process.
Fatty foods, and foods high in acid are high on the hit list if you are a sufferer of GERD. Foods to avoid are things such as chocolate, citrus fruits, alcohol, tomatoes, onions, caffeine, some dairy and certain types of beef. Whilst there is no exclusive list, sufferers are often pointed in the right direction.
Keeping a food diary can help immensely. This will allow you to study and see which foods are more than likely doing more damage than good. It’s a good record to follow and is something that can help you make the right lifestyle change when it comes to diet.
Drugs are usually the first port of call to ease symptoms, but there are natural remedies, simply initiated by making a change in lifestyle. Cutting down on smoking, eating smaller but more frequent meals and sleeping with your head raised are natural and immediate ways to help yourself out.
Foods to avoid with GERD may still be a factor in your life, but if you take better care of the esophagus, then even some of the foods which triggers your individual case of GERD symptoms, can even be considered in moderation.
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