As Americans prepare to give thanks and engorge ourselves with multiple helpings on Thanksgiving Day this week, GERD sufferers, approximately 15 to 30% of the U.S. population, may already be weighing the consequences ahead of time. GERD is an acronym for gastroesophageal reflux disease and if you have already been diagnosed, you are fully aware of its symptoms. If not, the National Institutes of Health explains that the most common symptom of GERD is “regular heartburn, a painful, burning feeling in the middle of your chest, behind your breastbone, and in the middle of your abdomen.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, dietary changes can help to control the symptoms of GERD. Such symptoms can be reduced by avoiding the following foods: caffeine, citrus fruits and juices, carbonated beverages, alcohol, mints such as spearmint and peppermint, tomato products, fried and greasy foods, spicy foods, garlic and onions, and chocolate. It is suggested that people living with GERD eat small and frequent meals and sit upright while eating and maintain that posture for 45 to 60 minutes after.
Consult your healthcare provider to discuss any dietary changes. To schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider at any of our convenient Primary Medical Care Center community clinics, you may visit our website at www.primarymed.com, or call (305)751-1500 for our Miami-Dade clinic, or (954)289-0000 for our Broward clinic.
Source: https://myclevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15530-lifestyle-guidelines-for-the-treatment-of-gerd
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive/diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults