The phrase “Food is the best medicine” has widely been used to emphasize how important it is to eat well to avoid illnesses or recover from them. Diet plans have widely been used to combat illnesses and the results have been magnificent. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one such condition that can effectively be addressed through a special Mediterranean diet. The plan involves taking in certain foods that counter the effects of stomach acid and bile irritation of the pipelining of food. If you are often experiencing heartburn and acid reflux weekly, it is time to consider having a GERD diet.
Kick-starting your GERD diet requires a thorough assessment because we all react differently to different foods. Therefore, it will be important to study the options that are the best fit for your use. Remember that acid reflux is a result of stomach contents retrieving back to the oesophagus. This can be disturbing hence the need for a quick solution. However, getting started with the GERD diet is a process. Here are must-know tips to help you get started:
Avoid Foods that Trigger GERD Diet
When you want to counter the effects of something, you definitely want to get rid of the causative agents. Therefore, your diet should be free from GERD triggers. These include some notable beverages and food substances. Your diet should not contain beverages such as caffeinated drinks, chocolate, alcohol, and carbonated drinks. Also, it will be a lot helpful to get rid of citrus juices and fruits from your diet.
Onions, garlic, fatty foods, tomatoes, and allied foods may appear to be a requirement in your daily recipes but are to be exempted from your GERD diet. All fried foods and spicy elements should also be eliminated. All these have been found to increase GERD symptoms. For that reason, it is advisable to keep off such to make the most of your GERD diet and heal quickly.
Look for GERD-Safe Foods
Some foods are triggers and that is why it is important to establish GERD-safe foods to help you manage the situation. Typical foods that could help you alleviate the situation include brown rice, egg whites, and fruits such as watermelon, pineapple, bananas, and apples. You can also pick potatoes, especially when boiled or baked.
Other foods include lentils, lean meats, fish, bread and pasta, fat-free snacks, low-fat yogurt, oatmeal, and cereals. Saltines, skinless chicken breast, and un-fried turkey are also great options. You must take these foods for some time, say a few days before going back to your usual diet.
Watch Your Eating Mannerisms
GERD can also be worsened through poor eating habits. As you prepare to change your diet, it may be a prudent idea to reconsider the way you eat as well. Adjusting to a new diet may not be satisfactory. It will be useful to take in smaller meals of the recommended GERD-safe foods. The objective here is to reduce the pressure mounting in your stomach that tends to push contents into the oesophagus.
Over and above that, eat slowly. This will make sure that your stomach and oesophagus are not irritated since you will only be taking small bites and taking time to thoroughly chew your food. Observe the following as well:
- Stay upright and avoid lying down for at least two hours after eating
- Ensure you maintain a healthy weight through what you eat
- Avoid eating snacks not unless you are hungry to necessitate it
- Keep off tight clothing especially around your waist
Introduce GERD Triggers Gradually after some Days
Having acid reflux doesn’t mean that you will never go back to other foods as before. At some point, you will get back. However, don’t introduce all triggers at once. Consider introducing one at a time. This is to help you know the foods that are bringing you problems so that you can shelve them to a later time when you have fully recovered.
Final Thoughts
Successful implementation of your GERD diet comes with a consideration of several factors and aspects. It all starts with knowing the causes of your acid reflux and what food substances to avoid as a result. There are the recommended foods to be taken in place of the GERD triggers but also, you will have to watch your mannerisms, before and after eating.