Dietary Changes and GERD: The Latest Research

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, you know how unpleasant the symptoms, especially heartburn, can be.

One of the first things doctors tell people with GERD to do is to change their diet to reduce the occurrence of heartburn. This advice often means eliminating the following foods:

• Fatty meats
• Fried foods
• Citrus fruits
• Citrus juices
• Chocolate
• Peppermint
• Excessive alcohol consumption (especially red wine)
• Tomatoes and tomato-based products
• Caffeinated beverages (coffee)
• Carbonated beverages (colas)
• Peppers
• Garlic and onions

Now a research review of over 100 studies of these dietary and other lifestyle measures, as reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine (Volume 166, page 965), has found that, while consuming these foods and beverages may make GERD symptoms worse, there was no scientific evidence that banning them from your diet will improve heartburn, or fix the underlying problem of acid reflux.

According to the research review, what will work for GERD is sleeping with the head of your bed elevated, and losing weight if you're overweight. See more information on preventing nighttime heartburn. Of course, if you experience heartburn after eating a certain food, you avoid that food to see if your symptoms improve.

If the symptoms don't improve, see a doctor about taking medication for GERD, such as H2 blockers and Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs).

If you are one of those persons who dismiss your symptoms as 'just' heartburn, it is important to remember that untreated GERD can lead to serious complications, such as esophageal ulcers, esophageal strictures, Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal cancer.

It is, therefore, important to not self-diagnose, and inform your doctor of any change in symptoms or severity of your symptoms.

Related Resources:

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
• Preventing nighttime heartburn
• H2 blockers
• Proton Pump Inhibitors
• Esophageal ulcers
• Esophageal strictures
• Barrett's esophagus
• Esophageal cancer.