Suggested Elimination Diet for GERD

GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, occurs when acid comes up from the stomach into the esophagus and throat, causing painful burning. There are many food types capable of causing acid reflux and these may vary from person to person, so eliminating these from a diet can help alleviate symptoms. Although elimination diets are most frequently used to to pinpoint food allergies or sensitivities, they can help individuals with GERD as well.

Elimination Diets in General

Begin an elimination diet by creating a list of foods you suspect of causing acid reflux, then removing everything from your diet that you believe serves as a trigger. Eat a diet free of these foods for four to six weeks, and once you are free from acid reflux, begin to introduce these foods back into your diet gradually. Begin with a single food and eat it for a few days and see if your heartburn returns. If it does not, this food can be considered 'safe.' If it does, put it on your list of foods to avoid. Continue this way for all the foods you have eliminated until you are left with a list of foods that serve as your biggest acid reflux triggers.

Specific Foods to Eliminate

Begin your elimination diet with the worst offenders. While acid reflux triggers are different from person to person, there are foods that cause problems among most GERD sufferers and serve as a good place to start an elimination diet. Foods that are high in acid, such as tomatoes and citrus fruits, can often cause heartburn. Spicy foods, alcohol, chocolate, peppermint, caffeine, carbonated beverages, onions and excessively fatty foods can also worsen GERD symptoms.

Other Considerations

Eat smaller meals more frequently, as opposed to large meals. Overfilling the stomach pushes up on the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach and causes reflux. Also, avoid laying down for two hours after eating a meal to decrease the chances of reflux.

An elimination diet may take months, but can help you formulate a list of foods that worsen your symptoms of GERD. While you are on the elimination diet, abstain from taking medications that treat acid reflux, which can mask the symptoms necessary to determine whether the diet is working.

If your GERD symptoms do not disappear after trying an elimination diet, seek the advice of a physician.