A GERD Diet – Learn What You Can Eat

Do you know that 95 million people in the United States experience heartburn, acid reflux, and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)? And with our fast food diets, those numbers are increasing. No one can escape this disease: adults, children, and even babies are affected by or experience acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD. That’s why it’s important to go on a GERD diet and learn what foods you can eat.

What causes GERD heartburn?
The physical cause of heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD is when the lower esophageal sphincter (a band at the top of the stomach) relaxes, stomach acid bubbles up into the esophagus and literally burns it, hence the name acidity

Triggering events
Things that can trigger this reflux of acid into the esophagus include eating certain foods that relax that sphincter. An increase in anxiety or stress in your life, lack of exercise, and a fast food diet are major contributors to a lifetime of GERD. All of these events have an effect on the body: the body increases acid production, the lower sphincter is released, and acid refluxes into the esophagus.

Increased Acid Can Cause Other Problems
Recent findings show that an acidic condition in the body creates a suitable environment for the growth of viruses, certain bacteria, and cancer. There are also findings that tell us that the increased production of acid in the body can also be related to digestive respiratory problems (such as asthma), kidney problems and associated heart disorders.

What are the symptoms of acid reflux?
Burning chest, tight little cough, constipation and/or diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia (muscle pain), difficulty swallowing, increased headaches, vomiting and insomnia, increased flatulence and belching, and taste in the mouth are indications that your system has become acidic and the acid has invaded the esophagus.

There are natural solutions
Why would you want to take prescription drugs, usually called proton pump inhibitors, that really only need to be taken for no more than two weeks AND can seriously increase acid production in the body?

Doctors routinely like to drop pills at physical symptoms; they rarely address the cause or approach the cure from a “whole” or holistic point of view. If you find a doctor who does, stick with him or her.

Traditional western medicine systems are designed to keep you sick, not make you better. This is the only way doctors get paid: when you’re sick. And it’s the only way these big pharmaceutical companies can continue to make a lot of money. They pump out drugs that 1) don’t cure the problem and 2) lead to serious complications that need to be addressed with ANOTHER pill that is twice as bad or worse.

On the other hand, traditional Eastern medical practices are designed to keep you from getting sick, and this can lead to some pretty amazing results. See an acupuncturist if you want pain-free results almost immediately. You will be surprised. But go to a licensed practicing acupuncturist with some time under his belt.

What foods are you combining?
Food combining is also a cause for acid production. Most people are unaware of the fact that foods fall into one of two categories (and sometimes in between) acid-causing or alkalinity-causing.

You can eat acid-causing foods in moderation if your system is in balance. If not, watch out. And when you combine certain foods, you can end up with a tummy ache that will make you howl.

Eat smaller meals more often
And try not to combine foods. Foods that are alkaline-based include the following:

Vegetables: Asparagus, Artichokes, Cabbage, Lettuce, Onion, Cauliflower, Radish, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Peas, Zucchini, Red Cabbage, Leek, Watercress, Spinach, Turnip, Chives, Carrot, Green Beans, Beetroot, Garlic, Celery, Herbs (straw, wheat and barley), cucumber, broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts.

Seeds: Almonds, pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, flax, buckwheat grits, spelled, lentils, cumin seeds or any sprouted seeds.

Beverages: Green Drinks, Fresh Vegetable Juice, Water with a pH balance of 7.0 or higher, Lemon Water (pure water + fresh lemon or lime), Herbal Tea, Vegetable Broth, Unsweetened Soy Milk or Almond Milk.

Whole grains Any bread that contains whole wheat grains will be vastly better than regular white bread.

Fats and oils: Flax, hemp, avocado, evening primrose, borage, coconut oil, and other oil blends (such as Udo’s Choice).

A GERD diet will consist primarily of alkaline foods until you get your acid production under control.