Ask Dr. Gourmet

I have GERD - what can I eat that won't cause flare-ups?

Two similar questions:

Could you please list the 12 best foods for me eat to prevent my GERD flare ups? It is hit and miss. I am a big protein eater but it may be that this has been a part of the problem. Strangely enough it seems that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cause a problem?

I have been diagnosed with GERD/Acid Reflux. I have the oddest reaction to bagels, even though I can eat other spicy or sweet foods. What is in bagels that I find so problematic?

Dr. Gourmet Says...

I get a lot of questions from folks about different foods that might trigger a GERD / acid reflux flare. The research on this is challenging, because while there have been reports of typical triggers, there is no definitive list.

Sorry.

Some folks might have issues with bagels, and others with peanut butter. Here's a list of the most commonly reported foods:

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 drinks
Spicy foods
Peppermint
Chocolate

You can find more information in our GERD section and we mark each of our recipes as to whether they might be "GERD friendly" based on these common triggers.

One of the best ways to control your GERD is to keep a food diary for a while to identify your triggers. It's not often that I hear of bagels (it might be the fat you put on the bagel) or peanut butter (again, this could be the high fat).

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet