Fight acid reflux with a GERD diet

Acid reflux, some of you might have experienced this a lot more times. We can understand how bad your experience with your food might get during this phase. Don’t worry, we have explored some wonderful ways to deal with your stomach issue. Acid reflux is a digestive disease in which stomach acid or bile irritates the food pipe lining. You might even feel these words well if you experience this often. 😛 Also, we will discuss the GERD diet which is famous among people with acid reflux. And, see if one can fight reflux with a GERD diet.

Acid reflux is a common problem among more than 10 million people in India, but the best part is that you can cure this at home with a few lifestyle changes. Remember, you have to consult your doctor if the condition worsens. So, our advice here appears with a term and conditions. 😛 Let’s start this topic by understanding what causes acid reflux. 

What causes acid reflux?

1. Avoid these food items: I am sad to inform you that your favorite junk food (most of the time) is responsible for the acid reflux problem. Having large meals or lying right after a heavy meal can trigger acid reflux. However, the list includes the following:

• Spicy food- Spice lovers would have felt this. So, drop those chilies there. 😛
• Fatty/ Fried foods: Your favorite lip-smacking junk foods or street foods are usually high in fat. So, you have to deal with your cravings for pizza or fries. 😛
• Coffee/ Tea: Caffeine is a player here. A higher dose of caffeine can trigger symptoms. 
• Chocolate: Cocoa and caffeine content in chocolate is responsible for this and reduces symptoms in a few people. 
• Alcohol: Excessive consumption can trigger symptoms. So, watch out when you plan your weekend parties. 
• Onion: Onions, especially raw ones can trigger acid reflux symptoms. 
• Citrus Fruits: Highly acidic fruits can cause GERD symptoms. So, avoid having oranges, lemons, tomatoes, tomato sauces, etc. 

Reduce the intake to improve your symptoms. 

2. Pregnancy: Many women might experience the symptoms of acid reflux for the first time during pregnancy. The increasing levels of hormones are also one of the causes. Symptoms might worsen during the third semester but would go away after delivery. 
3. Smoking: Smoking reduces lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure. The LES behaves as a protective closure that keeps the acid in the stomach and out of the esophagus. So, this reduced pressure allows the acid to jump up and cause heartburn. 
4. Other factors include obesity, snacking close to bedtime, etc. The researchers have shown the correlation between obesity and reflux problems. 

Symptoms of acid reflux include:

1. A burning sensation in the chest- Heartburn 
2. Difficulty swallowing
3. Chest pain 
4. Regurgitation of food or sour liquid.
5. The sensation of a lump in the throat.

Now, as we already know the symptoms. Let’s dig deeper to address the issue and discuss the not-so-popular- GERD Diet.

GERD Diet:

The term GERD(Gastroesophageal reflux disease) might sound new, but the word indicates a chronic acid reflux condition. Diet plays a huge role in dealing with most health issues. 

GERD diet is also one of those diets that can help you deal with acid reflux issues. Having acid reflux or heartburn once in a while is not harmful but having it every time you eat is something that needs attention. 

Your kitchen has ingredients that can help you deal with acid reflux. Here’s our food recommendation that you must include in your diet. 

1. Stockpile some fruits and vegetables: Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, cucumbers, etc., can help you deal with symptoms. Go for higher pH fruits (alkaline) like Banana, melons, nuts, etc. The food we eat falls somewhere on the pH scale. So, choosing something less acidic will help us deal with symptoms better. Look for the pH and choose accordingly. 
2. Increase fiber intake: Fibrous food will make you feel full and thus reduces the chance of overeating. The study has shown that a high-fiber diet can lower the risk of acid reflux. Whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice, and vegetables like sweet potato, carrots, broccoli, green beans, etc., can help you manage your health issue. Also, try to control your portion size and avoid overeating. 
3. Include watery foods: Fruits with an appropriate water content can help in diluting stomach acid. So, the list includes watermelon, cucumber, celery, lettuce, etc. Make sure you include them in your diet. They can keep you full for longer hours and can reduce your chances of overeating. Thus, one can easily maintain weight also. This way, these watery foods will help you deal with acid reflux.
4. Grab ginger: Ginger is known for its antioxidant properties and thus has plenty of health benefits. The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger play a role in dealing with acid reflux. However, one should be careful about the portion size because having excess can worsen the condition. 
5. Low-fat and plant-based milk: High-fat food can worsen the symptoms, and that includes milk. So, choose low-fat milk or plant-based milk like almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, oat milk, etc., as they are safe for people experiencing symptoms. 

Wrap-up:

1. Follow a healthy and balanced diet plan. 
2. Maintain a healthy weight. Follow a nutritional calorie deficit.
3. Avoid overeating. Also, eating fast could be problematic as it can also lead to overeating and worsen the symptoms. Here’s how you can control overeating.
4. Don’t run to your bed immediately after your meal. 
5. Avoid smoking and build healthy habits. 

Here we have summed up everything you need to know about acid reflux and GERD Diet. It is always advisable to consult doctors if your symptoms worsen. Most of our health-related issues can be solved through a healthy diet plan. Pay attention to the quantity and quality of the food you consume.

Food is not the only thing responsible for the health problem. It’s our eating habits and lifestyle that make it difficult for us to deal with certain food groups.

Share with your friends and family. 🙂 Also, you can share your ways of dealing with acid-reflux symptoms. 

Have a happy healthy life. 🙂