Most
people think of GERD as occasional heartburn, but there are a significant
number who have chronic, persistent pain and discomfort. Gastroesophageal
Reflux Disease, or GERD, affects about 15 million people in the United
States.
Being overweight has clearly been shown to be associated with GERD, and those with a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) have less risk of symptoms. Diet appears to be a major part of this as well, and most all of my patents with GERD can tell me what foods will provoke their reflux.
The most common foods that people complain of include:
Whole milk products
Acidic fruits and juices (orange, grapefruit, pineapple and lemon)
Onions
Tomatoes and tomato products
Vinegars or foods cured in vinegar (pickles, relish)
Foods very high in sugar
Fatty meats
Fried foods
Recipes that are very high in fat
Alcohol
Coffee
Tea
Carbonated sodas
Spicy foods
Peppermint
Chocolate
Many
of my recipes use ingredients that will cause symptoms. Every recipe on
the Dr. Gourmet website is now labeled in the Special Diet Information
section with whether it might cause reflux symptoms. Some recipes will
have suggestions for changes to make them more “reflux friendly.”
Weight loss is one key and I see patients almost every day whose reflux symptoms improve when they lose weight. Using The Quality Calorie Diet is a good way for you to get started, with meal plans and recipes specifically created for those with GERD / Acid Reflux.
GERD-Safe Recipes
The recipes on the Dr. Gourmet website are individually labeled for their appropriateness for those with GERD. These are some of the top-rated recipes that should be safe for those with GERD.
Breakfast
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Tropical Melon Smoothie
Apple Pancake
Jean's French Toast
More Breakfast Recipes
Soups and Salads
Broccoli Cheese Soup
White Chili
Chef's Salad with Parmesan Dressing
Greek Salad
More Soups and Salads
Main Course
Cashew Chicken
Chicken Fajitas with Roasted Red Peppers
Fettucine Alfredo
Shrimp Scampi
More Main Course Recipes
Extras, Side Dishes and Desserts
Low-acid Tomato Sauce
Pan Grilled Asparagus
French Fries
Roasted Yams with Rosemary
More Extras, Sides and Desserts
News Bites
Maintain your weight, avoid gallstones: Obesity is known to be a strong risk factor, in and of itself, for the formation of gallstones. We also know that rapid weight loss, like that seen in those who have weight-loss surgery, is also a risk factor for gallstones. Those painful little stones, often formed of cholesterol crystals, are more often seen in women than in men, and studies of gallstone risks are often focused on women. More....
Be
aware of soft drinks: I have a patient who drinks a six-pack of sugared
soda every day. As you might expect, he has a weight problem: in addition
to his regular eating habits, he's consuming an extra 900 calories of
sugary-sweet soft drink every day. Soft drinks are pervasive in American
culture and it's clear that the increase in their consumption since 1960
coincides with the widening of the American waistline. More....
Trying to control your weight? Get some more exercise: Despite the fact that Americans spend over $50 billion per year on weight loss products and services, one-third of adults are still obese. To combat this, in 1998 the National Institute of Health recommended that adults get a minimum of 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise, 5 days per week (150 minutes/week), in addition to reducing calories consumed. More....

If
you have GERD / Acid Reflux the Dr. Gourmet book, Cooking
to Reduce the Burn, can help. There's information on how to eat as well
as recommendations for lifestyle change to help you live
a pain-free life. GERD friendly recipes are included, and
the best part is - it won't cost you anything. Download 
Tomatoes
and tomato products