What to eat with GERD: finding foods that suit you

GERD symptoms occur when stomach contents flow back into the food pipe. Large meals can increase pressure in the stomach, while some foods or drinks may relax the valve between the stomach and food pipe or irritate sensitive tissue. Triggers differ between people, so a food that bothers one person may be comfortable for another.

Keep a simple diary of meals, timing and symptoms. Test one suspected trigger at a time, rather than removing many foods together. Many people find it helpful to reduce rich or fatty meals, spicy foods, acidic foods, chocolate, mint, caffeine or fizzy drinks when these clearly worsen symptoms. Eat slowly, choose smaller portions, and leave time between eating and bedtime. Keep enough fibre, protein and fluids in your diet, and seek dietitian advice if restrictions are affecting nutrition or daily life.

Arrange a review if food changes do not control repeated symptoms, or if reflux is affecting sleep or normal eating. Get prompt care for food sticking, painful swallowing, repeated vomiting, vomiting blood, black stools or unexplained weight loss. Chest tightness with breathlessness, sweating, faintness or spreading pain needs urgent assessment.

Ask which symptoms support Acid Reflux, whether medicines or a hiatus hernia may contribute, and how to keep your meals nutritionally adequate while testing triggers.