Diet For Gerd

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (Gerd) is a digestive disease that causes stomach acid to flow into your esophagus (where the food goes in route to your stomach after you swallow it). This stomach acid can inflame and irritate your esophagus and cause serious discomfort like heartburn and swallowing problems.

There are many causes, such as excess stomach acid, physical problems with the flap (LES) that covers the opening at the bottom of the esophagus, and overeating of acid rich foods. Many doctors recommend very specific foods that should be avoided, along with many that have less potential to cause excess stomach acid.

Antacid over the counter medicine (Tums, Maalox, Rolaids, etc) and prescription drugs that inhibit or slow down production of acid (cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), nizatidine (Axid AR) or ranitidine (Zantac 75), can help many.

But most doctors also recommend a lifestyle and diet change to help avoid these kind of problems. Here's a quick list of foods that are safe and the ones to avoid if your have been diagnosed with GERD.

Safe Foods

Foods To Avoid

Fruits

• Apple, fresh
• Apple, dried
• Apple juice
• Banana

Vegetables

• Baked potato
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Peas

Meat

• Extra-lean ground beef
• London Broil Steak
• Skinless chicken breast
• Egg whites
• Egg substitute
• Fish, no added fat

Dairy Products

• Cheese, feta or goat
• Cream cheese, fat-free
• Sour cream, fat-free
• Soy cheese, low-fat

Grains

• Bread, mult-grain or white
• Cereal, bran or oatmeal
• Corn bread
• Graham crackers
• Pretzels
• Rice, brown or white
• Rice cakes

Beverages

• Mineral water

Fats / Oils

• Low fat salad dressing

Sweets / Desserts /Snacks

• Fat free cookie
• Jelly beans
• Red licorice
• Baked potato chips

Fruits

• Orange juice
• Lemon
• Lemonade
• Grapefruit juice
• Cranberry juice
• Tomato

Vegetables

• French fries
• Raw onions

Meat

• Ground beef, chuck
• Marbled sirloin
• Chicken nuggets
• Buffalo wings

Dairy Products

• Sour cream
• Any Milk shake
• Ice cream
• Regular cottage cheese

Grains

• Macaroni and cheese
• Spaghetti with red sauce

Beverages

• Liquor
• Wine
• Coffee, any
• Tea, any

Fats / Oils

• Creamy salad dressing
• Oil & vinegar dressing

Sweets / Desserts /Snacks

• Butter cookie, high-fat
• Brownie
• Chocolate
• Doughnut
• Corn chips
• Regular potato chips

Nicotine, any form

As you can see, many foods that have natural acids, require acids to digest properly, fried foods, foods with high fat content, and spicy foods are definitely in the avoid list.

Also keep in mind that everyone can have foods that are more of a problem than to others. It's a good idea to customize the list to fit your particular reactions. Both these lists are just starting points and should be adjusted to your individual needs. As with any dietary change, always check with your physician before starting any diet.

The content on this site is presented only for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice from a practicing physician.