Foods to Avoid with GERD

Friday, April 9, 2010 by David Williams
It appears that we’re not the only country whose population is seeing an increase in problems with heartburn—or GERD, as it’s now being called. By looking at study surveys, researchers at Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, compared 3,153 individuals who reported problems with severe heartburn or regurgitation to 40,210 people without GERD symptoms. They uncovered several risk factors that have been largely ignored thus far in this country.

The general advice in the US is to avoid spicy foods, don’t eat late meals, and don’t drink alcohol in the evening. In Norway, they discovered that individuals who routinely added salt to their meals had almost twice the risk of experiencing acid reflux.

Reducing your salt intake is a simple GERD remedy. If the food seems too bland, then try substituting other herbs, spices, and flavored vinegars. I like the all-purpose, all-natural seasoning powder called Spike that is sold in most health food stores.

Researchers also discovered that those who consumed coffee and high-fiber foods, and who exercised frequently, had a significantly lower incidence of acid reflux. High-fiber diets had one of the greatest influences by cutting the incidence by almost half. (Gut 04;3(12):1730–1735)

Based on these findings, the best dietary GERD remedies include:
  • Avoid spicy foods;
  • Don’t eat late meals;
  • Don’t drink alcohol in the evening;
  • Reduce salt intake; and
  • Consume high-fiber foods.

Surgery as a GERD Remedy? Why?

Saturday, March 27, 2010 by David Williams
Surgery is sometimes recommended as a GERD remedy for patients who have "failed" traditional medical therapy. I have to ask, "Why?" The procedure is known as "fundoplication," in which a surgeon wraps the upper part of the stomach around the esophagus and stitches that flap back to the stomach's outer wall. Hard to believe, but true. A recent analysis of several studies showed that fundoplication provides better results than "medical management" of GERD symptoms.

Again, "Why?" There are so many natural remedies for GERD that I hardly know where to begin. Maybe the simplest one is watch your foods to avoid GERD. If you know that eating certain foods causes you that familiar burning pain, avoid them. And stay away from those drugs--and from that surgeon.