GERD is a digestive disorder that causes stomach acid to back up into the esophagus. Although there are many medical treatments for GERD, eating a proper diet is an important step in reducing symptoms and can help prevent them from occurring in the first place. So learn about the best diet for GERD patients, and the best types of sweets and drinks that can be consumed.

Best diet for gastroesophageal reflux patients

Difficulty digesting some types of foods may lead to increased acidity and symptoms of GERD. The types of foods that cause symptoms may vary from person to person, but foods rich in fats and spices are common causes.

But fortunately, many people have succeeded in treating GERD and avoiding its health complications, by using natural herbs to relieve reflux symptoms, following a healthy diet to reduce inflammation, and helping the digestive system to heal.

It may require following the best diet suitable for your condition, making lifestyle changes, and discovering the types of foods that are appropriate for you, as treatments do not affect all people in the same way.

However, we always recommend that you consult a doctor first, in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis of the condition, because chronic reflux cannot improve on its own.

Over-the-counter treatments may also relieve symptoms in the short term. But they may mask an underlying disease, if used long-term. Which may require a combination of conventional treatment and changes in the diet under the supervision of a doctor.

Foods prohibited for GERD

Eating large and fatty meals is one of the most common causes of acidity, so it is better to eat four to five small meals a day, rather than eating two or three large meals. Among the foods that patients with GERD should avoid are:

• processed foods
• Soft drinks and energy drinks
• Sodium rich foods
• fatty foods
• Spicy foods like chili peppers and hot sauce
• Avoid eating mint, garlic, and onions
• refined grains
• Excessive consumption of refined sugar
• Refined vegetable oils
• Dairy and gluten products

Foods to be avoided

GERD patients can eat some types of foods and drinks in moderation, but eating them may cause more acidity symptoms in some people than others, and therefore it is better to eat small amounts of them, or avoid them. Including the following:

• Caffeine-containing drinks
• Drink mint tea or tomato juice
• Citrus juices
• Chocolate milk, or whole milk
• Carbohydrates, such as french fries, croissants, and tortilla chips
• Fried meat and fish
• Fats such as obesity, butter, and cream
• Sausage, sausage and pepperoni

Some people may also feel an exacerbation of GERD symptoms when eating egg whites or whipped cream.

Banned fruits for GERD

As for the forbidden fruits for GERD patients, you should avoid eating acidic fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, pineapples, and lemons.

By following these nutritional tips, this may help protect the digestive system, balance hormone functions, and prevent many chronic diseases related to digestive system problems.

Useful foods for the treatment of esophageal reflux

Fortunately, there are many digestive-friendly foods and drinks that GERD sufferers can eat. Among the types of useful foods are the following:

• Fresh vegetables such as leafy greens, cucumbers, asparagus, and artichokes
• Sea vegetables, such as the algae supplement spirulina, may help regulate stomach acid
• Lean meat
• Healthy fats such as olive oil
• Fresh fruits such as berries, apples, and pears
• Nuts and seeds such as chia seeds and flaxseeds
• Sweet potatoes and toast
• Skimmed or low-fat dairy products (1% milk fat), such as cottage cheese
• Probiotic foods like kombucha and kefir
• High-fiber foods to support the beneficial bacteria in the gut

Good drinks

• plant milk
• Herbal tea without mint
• Drink non-acidic juices
• Drinking water

Thus, eating a healthy diet may help you recover faster. Where many plant foods contain dietary fiber, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory. This helps the body fight free radicals and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.

Dietary fiber also helps stimulate beneficial bacteria in the stomach, thus improving digestion and reducing the deficiency of essential nutrients in the body.

As for eating animal products such as dairy, cheese, and meat, some GERD patients may find it difficult to digest them properly. So I look for lean meats, poultry, and fish.

The type of bread suitable for patients with esophageal reflux

The best type of bread for people with GERD symptoms is whole grain bread. This is because it contains dietary fiber, which in turn plays an important role in improving digestion, and thus reducing associated symptoms.

Whole grain bread may contain the following:

Whole grain bread is the most suitable option for GERD patients, such as French bread, crispy toast, English muffin, and bagel bread.

On the other hand, the GERD patient should avoid foods and baked goods that contain refined grains, such as fino bread (white bread), due to the fact that this type of baked goods contains a small percentage of fiber.

Sweets and acidity

Some may ask, is it possible to eat sugars if I suffer from GERD? Research has found that low-sugar consumption generally does not affect stomach acid reflux, unless there are stimulating ingredients added. Therefore, you should avoid eating processed sweets, and manufactured sugar can be replaced by eating some types of natural sweeteners, such as:

Forbidden sweets

• chocolate
• Ice cream
• High-fat cakes
• Biscuits and waffles are high in fat

Sweets allowed

• sponge cake
• Types of low-fat biscuits
• Low fat ice cream
• Iced Zayadi

Therefore, make sure that your diet contains healthy and useful sweets, and that sugar does not constitute more than 10% of the total number of daily calories required.

A healthy diet can play an important role in preventing stomach acid reflux and relieving symptoms. It also helps maintain a healthy weight, avoiding the risk of obesity and other diseases.

Dairy products and GERD

If you experience acidity and heartburn after eating certain foods, the acidity may be related to a specific food. For example, some people suffer from lactose intolerance, which may lead to symptoms such as gas and flatulence, and thus may increase the feeling of heartburn.

So in that case, the habit of avoiding foods containing lactose may help relieve symptoms. A study conducted in 2011 to assess the relationship between cow’s milk and GERD found that 81 children participating in the study suffered from GERD symptoms when drinking cow’s milk.

But when the researchers excluded milk from the children’s meals, their symptoms began to improve. Therefore, the researchers concluded that there is a clear link between milk allergy and GERD.

On the other hand, if you are not allergic to dairy products and lactose intolerant, then it may be beneficial for you to add some dairy products to your diet such as yogurt.

This is due to the fact that many types of yogurt contain probiotics (beneficial bacteria), which help the health of the intestine and digestion. It has been proven that taking probiotics It may be useful in the following cases:

• Gastritis
• diarrhea
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Gastrointestinal cancer

But if you want to take probiotic supplements, we recommend that you consult your doctor first, to assess its effectiveness in your treatment plan.

In the end, following a GERD diet does not mean that you have to stop eating all your favorite foods, but making some simple changes may help relieve GERD symptoms. In the event that your symptoms do not improve with a healthy and appropriate diet, we recommend that you consult a doctor to assess the severity of the disease, and choose the most appropriate treatment plan for your health condition.