Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease is that horrible feeling or heartburn you feel after you eat. This is common to people who eat to soon before going to bed. Make sure that you eat 2-3 hours before going to bed. Remember also not to take big meals before bed. Breakfast and lunch should be the bigger meal. During dinner, use a small plate and no speed and over eating. GERD can be caused by the reactions that take place with the foods we eat. If you suffer from GERD, here are some simple things you can do to manage your levels of stomach acid.
- The foods that exacerbate GERD is eating a diet that is high in carbohydrates and bad fats.
- Sometimes even healthy foods can trigger GERD. What you can do is pull gluten out of your diet. Eat whole wheat instead.
- Reduce eggs as well as dairy
- Avoid drinking too many fluids with your meal instead drink water between meals. Fluids can dilute the stomach acids and those stomach acids, when diluted causes the protein to just sit inside your stomach causing those stomach acid to wash back up to your esophagus causing heart burns.
- Limit mints and chocolate. They contain compounds that cause lower esophageal Sphincters to loosen or relax. When this happens acid can flow back up to the esophagus.
- Avoid highly acidic foods like oranges, lemon juice, tomatoes. These are classic heartburn foods, especially when consumed in an empty stomach.
- Experiment with less acidic juices like papaya, mango, guava and pear instead.
- Limit certain spices like ginger, curry, pepper and parsley. They all provoke heartburns. Try them a little bit at a time.
- Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages. Wine and beer can trigger heartburn to some people.