Dining with GERD

Posted: May 17 in Diet & Reflux by Staff

Dining out can be a painful experience for people suffering from the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but it doesn’t have to be. Following these simple steps will help you avoid the overwhelming burn of acid reflux. First, knowing exactly which foods trigger your heartburn is essential when making wise menu choices.
Because everyone is different, each person may have special trigger foods. However, there are general classes of foods that commonly cause problems for many suffering from severe heartburn in Albany, Georgia, and elsewhere. The three main culprits are fatty foods, foods with high acid content, and spicy dishes. These can make what should be an enjoyable evening dining out a nightmare of heartburn pain.
Take your time with the menu, and ask your sever questions about how the food was prepared. If possible, try to access the menu online before arriving at the restaurant, giving you more time to make initial decisions. Avoid all fried foods and fatty meats, cheeses, and heavy cream sauces. Pick grilled or baked entrees instead. If tomatoes are one of your triggers, avoid pasta or other entrees with red sauce. Remember that condiments may be just as acidic as tomatoes or citrus, so avoid vinegar dressings, ketchup, and mustard.
Spicy seasonings might aggravate your GERD, so ask which menu items are heavy on cayenne, garlic, onions, and other strong spices and herbs. Some restaurants are happy to prepare dishes with just a hint of seasonings.
No matter what menu choices you make, remember that overeating stresses the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach, allowing that dreaded backflow of stomach acids. You can easily prevent this by asking for half portions, sharing your meal with your dining partner, or taking the remainder home for another delicious meal.