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.

Weight loss is one key and I see patients almost every day whose reflux symptoms improve when they lose weight. Using The Real World Diet is a good way for you to get started, with meal plans and recipes specifically created for those with GERD / Acid Reflux.

Learn How to Eat Without Causing GERD / Acid Reflux!

If you have GERD / Acid Reflux, Dr. Gourmet's online guide, Eating to Prevent GERD, can help. This online guidebook includes information on how to eat, recommendations for lifestyle change, and Tummy Tips to help you live a pain-free life.

Get started reading Eating to Prevent GERD with The GERD Friendly Breakfast.

What Foods Are GERD Triggers?

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

Free GERD-Friendly Diet Planner

The Real World Diet is your free, interactive meal planner that will help you eat healthier, maintain a healthy weight, and manage your GERD / Acid Reflux. All recipes are specifically designed to avoid common trigger foods. Flavorful, delicious food that you'll love!

Create a two-week custom meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner, for yourself or your entire family - even kids under 14! NO making separate meals.

Shopping lists are automatically generated. Just print and shop for the next two weeks of meals.

Easy, kid-friendly meals with leftovers for lunches or later in the week.

Just select the GERD / Acid Reflux option when you create your profile for The Real World Diet.

Other web sites charge you as much as $29.95 per month for their meal planners, but The Real World Diet is completely free. (We don't even ask for your credit card information.)

Sign up for The Real World Diet now!

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....

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Recipes for GERD / Acid Reflux

Many of my recipes use ingredients that will cause symptoms. Every recipe on the Dr. Gourmet website is 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."

GERD-Friendly Breakfast Recipes
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Tropical Melon Smoothie
Apple Pancake
Jean's French Toast
More Breakfast Recipes

GERD-Friendly Soup and Salad Recipes
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Turkey White Bean Soup
Chef's Salad with Parmesan Dressing
Greek Salad
More Soups and Salads

GERD-Friendly Main Course Recipes
Cashew Chicken
Chicken Fajitas with Roasted Red Peppers
Fettucine Alfredo
Shrimp Scampi
More Main Course Recipes

GERD-Friendly Extras, Side Dishes and Dessert Recipes
Low-acid Tomato Sauce
Pan Grilled Asparagus
French Fries
Roasted Yams with Rosemary
More Extras, Sides and Desserts

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