When your stomach acid invades your esophagus, you have GERD — and significant discomfort. Here’s how you can control that acid with some simple dietary hacks.
Your stomach is an amazing organ that expertly begins to break down food — even tough meats and fibrous nuts — into substances your body can use. To do this, it employs the help of powerful acids.
Although your stomach lining can handle the erosive acids, other tissues can’t. So, when you have acid reflux, and those acids creep up into your esophagus, you feel the effects instantly — hello, heartburn.
You also feel the long-term effects, as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the chronic form of occasional acid reflux, repeatedly pushes acid upward into your esophagus and damages the lining over time. Unfortunately, over time this tissue damage can develop into a condition called Barrett’s esophagus that increases your risk for cancer.
The good news is that we can treat GERD and help you prevent the pain and risks.
Our Newtown Gastroenterology team specializes in common and complicated cases of GERD and provides expert care for folks throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Chinatown, and Manhattan in New York City. Our board-certified physicians offer the most advanced GERD treatments available, but it all starts with you.
Here are some diet tips to help you avoid GERD flare-ups and ease discomfort when they occur.
If you have GERD, you want to do all you can to avoid those acute attacks that trigger heartburn, abdominal pain, coughing, and nausea. We recommend focusing on foods that counteract the conditions that set off GERD symptoms.
Since acid is the culprit behind GERD, give your stomach foods that are more alkaline. For example:
These foods have higher pH levels and can offset the acid in your belly
Overeating is one of the main factors contributing to GERD. When your stomach is stuffed, food and acid tend to push upward, forcing your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to open and allow passage into your esophagus.
One strategy to avoid this is to eat foods that make you feel full and satisfied without overdoing it in terms of quantity. Try:
These are just a few examples of high-fiber foods that may help you prevent GERD attacks.
Another strategy that may help fight GERD is to dilute your stomach acid with water. Drinking plenty of H2O throughout the day is great, but don’t forget that you can also get water from foods such as:
Herbal teas can also hydrate you and dilute stomach acid, but avoid caffeinated teas because they have the opposite effect — caffeine is a diuretic, meaning excess consumption may increase urine production.
Obesity, hiatal hernias, and other issues that compromise your LES’ ability to keep food and acidic juices in your stomach are the underlying causes of GERD, not food.
However, certain foods can trigger GERD flare-ups, and you should avoid them when possible. These include:
Caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and energy drinks may contribute to GERD by relaxing the LES. You don’t have to give up all these foods and beverages forever, but you should cut back and remember that you may have a GERD flare-up when you consume them.
What you eat and don’t eat affects your GERD symptoms, as does how you eat. You can do yourself a favor by paying attention to the following:
In addition to these dietary strategies, you can also reduce your GERD flare-ups by:
Relieving pressure on your abdomen can help you avoid heartburn and acid reflux.
Despite your best dietary efforts, sometimes GERD attacks get the best of you, and that’s where we come in. Our team assesses your condition, identifies the underlying cause, and treats the root problem.
We may recommend prescription-strength medications to neutralize your stomach acid, our nonsurgical weight loss program, or surgery to repair a damaged LES.
If you’re eating over-the-counter antacids like they’re a food group, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of our GERD specialists. Call us or book online at any of our New York offices in Elmhurst, Brooklyn, Manhattan, or College Point.
