By: Angie Dye, MS, RDN, CSSD
Have you ever experienced heartburn? A feeling of food being stuck in your throat? Or experienced a sour taste in your mouth? If these symptoms occur frequently, you may want to be evaluated for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
This week is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness week, a terrific time to promote awareness of the disease and to encourage people experiencing symptoms to seek medical attention.
GERD is very common, affecting up to 1 in 5 U.S. adults. However common the disease may be, it is often unrecognized or untreated. GERD is the digestive disease with the highest direct cost, more than other digestive diseases such as colon cancer and liver disease. People affected by GERD spend over $7.6 billion dollars per year on medication, which is over half the cost of all prescription drugs for digestive diseases combined.
While treatment of this chronic disease often includes the use of prescription medication, lifestyle modification plays an equally important role. Food itself does not cause GERD, but many foods may worsen or aggravate symptoms of heartburn and reflux. Foods that weaken the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) or promote more acid production should be avoided.
Foods that aggravate symptoms may vary from person to person, but in general it is best to limit high fat foods, alcohol, onions, acidic fruits and juices, natural peppermint, coffee and chocolate. However, working on the timing and size of meals may even prove more important than the actual food eaten. Typically, small frequent meals are much better tolerated than larger meals. Additionally, staying upright and avoiding lying down within 3 hours of eating can also decrease symptoms. Lastly, carrying extra body weight can promote reflux, as excess abdominal fat puts pressure on the stomach. The loss of even a moderate amount of weight makes many people feel better. If you need help implementing these lifestyle changes, a Registered Dietitian would be able to help you personalize these recommendations.
Angie Dye, MS, RDN, CSSD is a Private Practice Dietitian who specializes in Intuitive Eating, Sports Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Nutrition in Hershey, PA. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @CarpeDiemRDN and Instagram @AngieDye3
