Sour stomach? Eat something that didn’t agree with you?
Really yearning for some Tums? These symptoms could be clues that you are
suffering from acid reflux. At best, acid reflux can take the joy out of a good
meal. At worst, it can deliver all the pain and panic of a heart attack. What can
be done to minimize this scourge of modern life?
Acid reflux (sometimes called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD) is a condition caused
by a weak esophageal sphincter (that’s a tough one!). That sphincter acts as a kind of trap door, opening when food is swallowed and remaining closed otherwise. This seals off the stomach, with its churning pool of acid, from the esophagus. When the esophageal sphincter is weak or leaky, it allows stomach acid
to splash up into the esophagus. This causes heart burn, hoarseness, difficulty
swallowing and shortness of breath. In extreme cases, the symptoms are like
those of a heart attack, causing many a tense moment at the emergency room. If
untreated, it can lead to lesions on the esophagus and even cancer of the
esophagus.
There is little that you can do to strengthen a weak
esophageal sphincter. If you have a leaky valve, you have a leaky valve, and
you just have to live with it. Your best strategy for minimizing symptoms is to
adjust your diet.
First, adjust HOW you eat. Don’t eat large meals. When
you stuff yourself, acid reflux is worsened. Try to eat smaller meals more
often, instead. Avoid eating before you go to bed, since acid reflux is worse
when you are reclining. You can try tilting your mattress, so that your head is
six inches higher than your feet. This can help quite a bit. This is also
another good reason to quick smoking. Smoking further loosens the esophageal
sphincter and increases stomach acid production, a double whammy. Quit now. Just quit.
Next, adjust WHAT you eat. An acid reflux diet has some “do’s”
and “don’ts” to follow. There are foods that can definitely make the situation
worse. Beverages containing caffeine (coffee, tea, many sodas) should be
minimized. Alcohol makes acid reflux worse, too, but many of us are willing to
take that downside anyway.
Try to avoid foods with a lot of acid, like citrus and
tomatoes. Fatty foods are tummy torchers, too, like French fries, burgers and
chips. Pretty much anything delivered by a drive through will make you pay
later.
Steer your eating toward safer foods. Apples and bananas are great fruit choices.
Broccoli, peas and carrots are positive members of the vegetable clan. And
stick with lean meats, like chicken or fish. If you are really craving some
junk food, see if you can get away with some pretzels or fat-free cookies.
There is no cure for acid reflux, but by following a
sensible acid reflux diet you can minimize the symptoms and still enjoy life. Do
you have any hints? Click on the Comment button and share the wealth!
I have GERD for some time now and it really helps that I try to eat smaller meals but frequent than with big large meals.
ReplyDeleteThis GERD diet approach worked a lot better than merely cutting out spicy foods, like everyone was telling me. Glad this is getting more press.
ReplyDelete