Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Diet (GERD)

Symptoms associated with acid reflux or GERD can be caused by a number of factors, including certain foods that may cause the lower esophageal muscle to relax, causing GERD. A diet designed to prevent or reduce acid reflux is usually easy to follow. The basic food groups of cereals, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and meats can be eaten with only a few limitations.

The following recommendations may be helpful in reducing symptoms:

• Stop using tobacco in all forms. Nicotine weakens still lower esophageal muscle.
• Avoid chewing gum and hard candy. They increase the amount of swallowed air which, in turn, leads to belching and reflux.
• Do not lie down immediately after eating. Avoid late evening snacks or large meals.
• Avoid tight-fitting clothing and bending over after eating.
• Eat small, frequent portions of food and snacks if needed.
• Lose weight if overweight. Obesity leads to increased reflux.
• Elevate the head of the bed 6 to 8 inches to prevent reflux while sleeping. Extra pillows, by themselves, are not very helpful.

The following foods aggravate acid reflux and should be avoided:

• fatty or fried foods
• whole milk
• chocolates
• oils
• peppermint and spearmint creamed foods or soups
• most fast foods

The following foods irritate an inflamed lower esophagus and may need to be limited or avoided:

• citrus fruit and juices
• alcohol
• caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

Spicy or acidic foods may not be tolerated by some individuals and may need to be avoided.

Reflux Diet

Foods that contribute to gas production

Legumes

Most beans, especially dried beans and peas, baked beans, soybeans, lima beans

Milk, milk products

Milk, ice cream, and cheese

Vegetables

Cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cucumbers, sauerkraut, kohlrabi, asparagus

Root Vegetables

Potatoes, rutabaga, turnips, radishes, onions

Fruits

Prunes, apricots, apples, raisins, bananas

Fatty Foods

Pan-fried or deep-fried foods, fatty meats, rich cream sauces and gravies, pastries (white fatty foods are not carbohydrates, they too can contribute to intestinal gas)

Liquids

Carbonated beverages, certain medications

Purpose: The bland or soft diet is designed to decrease peristalsis and avoid irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Use: It is appropriate for people with peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, reflux esophagitis or dyspepsia. It may also be used in the treatment of hiatal hernia.

The soft/ bland diet consists of foods that are easily digestible, mildly seasoned and tender. Fried foods, highly seasoned foods and most raw gas-forming fruits and vegetables are eliminated. Drinks containing Xanthine and alcohol should also be avoided.

Food Recommended	Foods to Avoid
MILK & DAIRY (2-3 servings each day)	MILK & DAIRY
All milk and milk products	None
Plain mild cheeses
Cottage cheese
VEGETABLES 3-5 servings each day	VEGETABLES
Mild flavored vegetable juices	Raw vegetables, dried peas and beans, corn
Cooked, frozen or canned vegetables as tolerated (asparagus tips, beets, carrots, green or waxed beans, mushrooms, pumpkin, green peas, white or sweet potato, spinach, summer or winter squashes)	Gas forming vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, onions, cauliflower, cucumber, green pepper, corn, rutabagas, turnips and sauerkraut
Lettuce in small amounts
Salads made from allowed foods
FRUIT (2-4 servings each day)	FRUIT
All fruit juices	All other fresh and dried fruit
Cooked or canned fruit without skins, seeds, or tough fibers	Berries and figs
Avocados and bananas
Grapefruit and orange sections without membrane
BREADS AND GRAINS (6-11 servings each day)	BREADS AND GRAINS
White, refined wheat, seedless rye breads. Plain white rolls, white melba toast, matzo, English muffin, bagel, pita bread, tortilla	Seeds in or on breads, and crackers
Saltine, graham, soda or plain crackers	Bread or bread products with nuts or dried fruit
Cooked, refined cereals such as cream or wheat, oatmeal, farina, cream of rice. Dry corn and rice cereals such as puffed rice or corn flakes	Potato chips, fried potatoes, wild rice
Potatoes
Enriched rice, barley, noodles, spaghetti, macaroni, and other pastas
Couscous
MEAT & MEAT SUBSTITUTES (2-3 servings each day)	MEAT & MEAT SUBSTITUTES
All lean, tender meats, poultry, fish and shellfish	Highly seasoned, cured, or smoked meats, poultry, or fish. Corned beef, luncheon meats, frankfurters, sausages, sardines, anchovies, strongly flavored cheeses and chunky peanut butter are to be avoided.
Eggs, crisp bacon
Smooth nut butters
Soybean curd (Tofu) and other meat substitutes
Soups
Mildly seasoned meat stock, broth bouillon, or cream soups made with allowed foods
FATS & SNACKS (use sparingly)	FATS & SNACKS
Butter or fortified margarine	Highly seasoned salad dressings with seeds or pickle relish
Mild salad dressing such as mayonnaise, French or vinegar and oil All fats and oils	All sweets and deserts containing nuts, coconut or fruit not allowed
Sugar, syrup, honey, jelly seedless jam, hard candies, plain chocolate candies, molasses, marshmallows	Fried pastries such as doughnuts
Cakes, cookies, pies, pudding, custard, ice cream sherbet, and Jell-O made with allowed foods
MISCELLANEOUS	MISCELLANEOUS
All beverages as tolerated	Caffeine-containing beverages (coffee, tea, colas, orange soda, Dr Pepper)
Herb teas, fruit drinks	Alcoholic beverages
Iodized salt, flavorings	Strongly flavored seasonings and condiments such as garlic, barbecue sauce, chili sauce, chili pepper, horseradish, pepper, chili, powder and other highly spiced foods
Seedless jams, taffy, sugar, honey, jelly	Pickles, seed spices, olives, popcorn, nuts and coconut
Marshmallows, molasses	Aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines
Mildly flavored gravies and sauces
Pepper, herbs, spices, ketchup, mustard and vinegar in moderation