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Follow these eating and lifestyle tips to avoid or alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with GERD, acid reflux, and heartburn.
Cut the fat.Lay off the chicken wings, fried foods, deep-dish pizza, and fatty steak. High-fat meals like these relax the LES and delay stomach emptying, making it more likely that you'll experience reflux. Instead, make lean proteins (like skinless poultry, seafood, beans, and lean cuts of red meat) and fiber-rich produce and whole grains your diet staples.
Watch out for potential trigger foods.When it comes to your diet, eating smaller meals is by far the most important step you can take to prevent reflux, more so than changing the foods you eat. That said, there are specific foods that can aggravate symptoms in certain individuals. The most common culprits are fried or fatty foods, alcohol, caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea, chocolate, mints and mint-flavored items, citrus juices and fruits, tomatoes and tomato sauce, spicy foods, onions, garlic, and carbonated beverages. Everyone has different triggers, though, so if you find that these foods don't cause you any discomfort, you can continue to enjoy them.
Don't lie down after eating.If you're prone to acid reflux, it's important that you don't lie flat for a minimum of two hours after you've eaten a meal or snack. In fact, stand up and walk around to help encourage the gastric juices to flow in the right direction. For the same reason, while sleeping, keep your upper body elevated by placing a few books or a foam wedge underneath the mattress or propping up the legs at the head of the bed with blocks or books.
Wear loose fitting clothing.Avoid anything tight around your middle, which can put pressure on your stomach and worsen the discomfort and pain of GERD. Until your symptoms are under control, think stretchy and comfortable
Chew cinnamon gum after meals.Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which helps to neutralize stomach acid. Gum chewing also encourages frequent swallowing, which clears irritating acid from the esophagus more quickly. Just make sure to choose non-mint flavors, since peppermint and spearmint can relax the LES and exacerbate symptoms. Pick up cinnamon or fruit flavors instead.
Quit smoking.Need another reason to give up cigarettes? Smoking increases your risk for GERD! Smoking slows digestion and increases stomach acid, while it also limits salvia production — your body's natural defense against stomach acid! Besides harming your esophagus, cigarette smoke also damages the digestive system and weakens your stomach's LES muscle, which directly causes acid reflux.
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