A patient with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) should make a number of changes to his or her diet to reduce the severity of the disease.
The goal is to avoid food and drink that:
(1) are irritative
(2) delay gastric emptying
(3) relax the lower esophageal sphincter
Foods that should be avoided:
(1) spicy food
(2) citrus fruit
(3) tomatoes
(4) onions
(5) fatty foods
(6) fried food
(7) chocolate
(8) mint
Beverages that should be avoided or restricted:
(1) carbonated beverages
(2) coffee
(3) tea
(4) other caffeinated beverages
(5) alcohol
(6) citrus fruit juices
Dietary changes:
(1) Avoid large meals. Meals should be small but more frequent.
(2) Avoid eating before becoming recumbent. The interval between eating and bedtime should be 3 hours or more.
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Specialty: Nutrition, Gastroenterology
