By Queen Edel
GERD which is the short form for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is a condition where stomach acid comes back into the oesophagus. Usually, those with GERD have an open sphincter which allows the acid to pass through unlike normal people who have a closed sphincter to prevent acid from accessing the oesophagus. GERD is an uncomfortable condition to say the least and the easiest way to paint a picture of how uncomfortable it gets is that it’s basically the chronic form of a heartburn; meaning it’s worse than a heartburn and it’s characterized by a constant burning in the chest, belching, nausea and regurgitation. The acid reflux often leads to bitter taste, dry cough or epigastric discomfort.
Gastritis on the other hand is a condition that causes inflammation in the stomach lining and is most commonly caused by bacterial infections. This other condition is characterized by upper stomach or abdominal pain, burning in the chest, belching, indigestion, nausea, vomiting and often appetite loss. With gastritis, the abdominal pain can become so bad that the affected person sometimes has to sit in a foetal position to feel some relief. My struggle with both conditions fueled me to do some research on what kind of diet is considered the proper one to help with the treatment process.
Foods to Avoid
The first step to successfully using food as a natural remedy for both GERD and Gastritis is knowing what foods to totally omit from your diet.
1. Fried food/ Fast food
However good they taste, fried and fast food like chips, Fried chicken, pizza etc are not ideal or if I may say, are extremely bad for your digestive system. These foods cause the sphincter to relax and delay the digestive process which makes food sit in the stomach longer.
2. Spicy foods
Now this is where I’m getting all teary eyed because spicy food was my favorite! However, for the sake of getting better, omitting spices like chilli, factory-made spices and peppers is a great step. It’s usually common to experience heartburn after eating spicy foods. Eating spicy food with GERD is like digging your own grave because the burning chest will literally feel like hellfire.
3. Citrus/ acidic fruits
You might think that fruits are the best way to get better but with these two conditions, not all fruits are safe. Fruits like lemons, oranges, tomatoes, mangoes and even pineapples need to be avoided because these fruits often cause heartburn and again, if you have GERD and eat them, your chest will feel like it’s exploding (or maybe it’s just me).
4. Carbonated drinks
If you’re a fan of carbonated drinks and coffee, you might need to cut out on these for the sake of peace. With Gastritis, carbonated drinks and coffee only worsens the abdominal pain therefore as much as these look convenient or sweet, you might as well just stick to water, natural fresh fruit juices and milk.
Foods to Eat
Now if you’ve got any of the two conditions, you’re probably wondering what in the world you’re expected to eat now. Well, there’s still a bunch of healthy foods you can eat that actually helps control or even treat the conditions.
1. High Fibre foods
Food that are high in fibre make you feel full therefore you’re less likely to overeat since that usually leads to heartburn and acid reflux as well. The most recommended foods include oatmeal, brown rice, sweet potatoes, pumpkin among others.
2. Alkaline and Watery Foods
These are foods that have high pH which can help offset stomach acid. These include cauliflower, bananas, carrots, apples and nuts. Watery foods such as watermelon , cucumber, lettuce and cabbages are also helpful in neutralizing the acid.
3. Foods with protein
It’s impossible for the body to fully function without a single amount of protein. That is why there are some recommended protein foods that can help control and/or heal one or both of the mentioned conditions. Eggs, poultry and lean meats are greatly recommended because they are easy to digest. Fatty meats are a huge NO since they might lead to indigestion, nausea and acid reflux. Milk is one of the most recommended foods to control heartburn and acid reflux. Even though beans are recommended by some medical professionals for Gastritis, it personally worsens my stomach pain therefore for me, that too is a NO.
You need to Know
Food is not the only way to help manage Gastritis and GERD but a generally healthy lifestyle is. Exercising, staying hydrated at all times and having peace of mind also contributes. Stress can trigger the release of stomach acid therefore ensure you try as much as possible to either avoid or deal with it. Taking medication as prescribed is also important. All these factors considered might not fully treat the condition but it will definitely get better than when none of the steps are taken. All in all, don’t forget about the most important thing which is prayer. We can try everything possible with our human knowledge but God is the master healer that’s why most hospitals/ medical professionals usually say “We treat but God heals.”
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