diet

Diet and Gastroesophageal Reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux is a widespread disorder characterized by symptoms such as heartburn, acidity and regurgitation. It is basically caused by an involuntary ascent of the gastric contents along the esophagus. If this ascent is particularly intense and frequent one can speak to all the effects of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Especially in milder forms this disease is often treated with a little lightness since the use of self-medication is very widespread among patients. Both for those who decide to tackle it with their own means, and for those who go to a doctor, the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux cannot ignore the adoption of a correct diet and lifestyle.

Role of Diet and Lifestyle

A sober eating style is important both to prevent and to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease.

FIRST RULE: EAT SLOWLY

The first digestion, it is known, takes place in the mouth and this is true not only because the saliva contains a chemical substance with digestive properties, but also because the shredding of food during chewing facilitates gastric activity. Eating a sandwich hurriedly swallowing whole mouthfuls promotes reflux as it lengthens the time the food stays in the stomach. For this reason it is essential that chewing is very slow and that the diet includes taking four or five small meals instead of one or two large daily binges.

Foods to Avoid

One of the first thoughts to arise in the mind of a person who complains of a certain heartburn regards the type of food ingested during the last meal. In this regard, it is necessary to distinguish two different types of food which, if present in the diet, can promote gastroesophageal reflux:

  • foods that delay the emptying of the stomach, increasing the possibility of an acid juice rising. As we have seen, to avoid reflux it is important that the stomach empties quickly. Consequently, in the presence of this pathology, the diet must be poor in all those foods that increase the permanence of food in the stomach (for example, foods rich in fat such as aged cheeses, chocolate, sausages and fries).
  • Carbonated soft drinks and the habit of chewing gum increase directly or indirectly the amount of air present in the gastric sac. The presence of these gases increases the pressure inside the stomach favoring the upward rise of gastric contents.
  • Foods that have inherent irritant characteristics (white wine, vinegar, spirits, spirits, tomato or citrus juice). These foods, to which must also be added tea, coffee, cocoa and the foods or drinks they contain, promote acid production in the stomach
WHAT IS THE GASTRO-ESOPHAGEAL REFLUX?KEEP THE REFLUX WITH THE DIET IN UNDER CONTROL
  • Abundant meals, foods rich in fat, especially if cooked, fried or fried, obesity and overweight.
  • Some special foods like coffee, tea, mint, alcohol, chocolate.
  • In the presence of reflux disease, in addition to treating one's diet, it is very important to abolish smoking.
  • Avoid over-abundant meals, especially in the evening
  • Avoid overdoing fatty foods, alcohol and coffee
  • Avoid going to bed immediately after eating.
  • A walk can be useful
  • Avoid those movements that increase abdominal pressure (bending of the torso) and clothing that is too tight
  • Elevate the headboard by 10-15 cm during night rest

Additional Advice

DRINK MORE

Saliva and liquids protect the esophageal mosses from gastric juices; therefore it may be useful to drink more, especially between meals

STOP SMOKING

Smoking promotes reflux, increases gastric acidity and makes the stomach walls more susceptible to acid attacks

DO NOT ABUSE SOME DRUGS

Like NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, some sedatives and tranquilizers, etc.). It is advisable in any case to communicate their use to the doctor, so as to check their compatibility with the disease and find, possibly, more healthy alternatives

AND THE MILK?

Milk, being an alkaline food, has an immediate positive effect as its basicity counteracts (dab) the acidity of the reflux. Milk, especially whole milk, is also rich in fats and proteins that increase gastric acidity and slow down the emptying of the stomach.

The milk therefore has a beneficial effect immediately but, especially if you overdo it with the quantities, after the initial relief it can cause a rapid reappearance of the symptoms.

OVERWEIGHT

The increase in intra-abdominal pressure, pressing against the walls of the stomach, favors the ascent of the gastric contents. This pressure can increase in absolutely physiological situations such as pregnancy or in the case of obesity and overweight.

AND THE STRESS?

Especially in recent years, a bit like being the mother of all evils, stress is always called into question when it comes to digestive tract diseases. In the presence of gastroesophageal reflux, this hypothesis should not be ruled out as anxiety and restrained anger can, for example, exacerbate the typical symptoms of the disease. Instead, it is very unlikely that stress is the direct cause of the onset of reflux.

AND BY NIGHT?

Heartburn at night is particularly annoying as it tends to last a long time. This burning is often caused by an incontinence of the cardial valve that favors the ascent of the acids into the esophagus where they remain irritating the mucous membranes for a long time. In addition to the diet, it may be useful in these cases to place a rise under the mattress to make the force of gravity hinder the rising of the acids.

Example diet for Gastroesophageal reflux disease