GERD patients should keep a food diary to identify trigger foods. Common foods to avoid include those high in fat, caffeine, and acidity, such as chocolate, coffee, and citrus fruits. Dairy products and spicy foods may also aggravate symptoms. Individual reactions vary.
The foods to avoid with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) largely depend on each individual with the condition. For example, for some GERD patients, foods that are highly acidic increase the risk of stomach acid regurgitation, but for others it is not a problem. The best way to discover foods to avoid with GERD is for people with the condition to keep a food diary. Whether stomach acid reflux reactions, or regurgitation, seem to be increased by acidic or dairy foods or those high in fat or caffeine, keeping a diary can help identify which ones an individual with GERD should avoid.
The caffeine in chocolate and coffee bothers some people with GERD. Even decaf coffee is a problem for some people. Tea and alcohol are other drinks to avoid if they cause stomach acid to back up into the esophagus.
Common acid-causing foods to avoid with GERD are those that are high in fat. Marbled beef, cookies, donuts, French fries, and French fries are high in fat and can aggravate stomach acid production in some people. Salad dressings can also be problematic, especially the spicy types. Although spicy foods do not cause stomach acid regurgitation or reflux in all people with GERD, they do bother some.
Although some people with ulcers or GERD report that milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, and yogurt soothe the stomach, others find that it later irritates the stomach to cause a buildup of acid. Unless otherwise directed by a doctor, each patient will need to eat and learn what dairy products and other foods to avoid with GERD. Of course, people who are lactose intolerant or allergic to certain foods should avoid them entirely. Any type of food or drink that aggravates GERD will reduce pressure on the esophageal muscles, so stomach acid is more likely to back up rather than stay low.
Some fruits and vegetables are acidic and may be foods to avoid with GERD. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, as well as their juice, cause regurgitation of stomach acid in some people who have GERD. Enjoying these foods or citrus juices in small amounts may be fine for some GERD patients, while others will need to avoid them altogether. Tomatoes are also bothersome for some people with GERD; This includes tomato sauce. Raw cabbage and onions are vegetables that cause acid reflux reactions in some people, while others with GERD aren’t bothered.
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