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For many people, it is hard enough to maintain a healthy, nutrient-rich diet without adding stomach upset. What happens when certain foods cause acid reflux? Or again when you have undergone a stomach surgery that has changed your life and that you have been asked to completely revise your lifestyle? What foods should you eat and avoid?
If you have concerns about your digestive health, always talk to a doctor.
What is GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux, more commonly known as GERD, is a common disorder that affects the muscle connecting the pipe of your food and your stomach. Sometimes it can be caused by a hiatal hernia – part of the stomach protrudes into the feeding tube, causing an increase in stomach acid – but not always.
The symptoms of GERD include heartburn and indigestion.
What foods should I eat if I have GERD?
If you want to reduce your GERD symptoms, diet is a key factor. And do not worry, it's not enough to cut food. In fact, eating the right kind of low-fat foods can also help manage the disease! Here are some types of food that you can try.
Vegetables
We all know that we should eat our green vegetables, but this is especially important if you have GERD. Most vegetables are low in fat and do not contain a lot of sugar, which can help reduce acid levels and prevent burning in the chest. Broccoli, cucumbers, asparagus, cauliflower, leafy vegetables and even potatoes are good options. Prepare them with less oil.
Lean meat
Meats high in fat, such as beef, pork and lamb, stay longer in the stomach and can contribute to the burning of the acid rise. Try to exchange them for lean, low-fat meats such as chicken, turkey or fish, and grill, bake or bake them instead of frying them.
Healthier options
If you have noticed, these dietary options encourage weight loss, which has evidence on reducing the effects of acid reflux. By adding more fruits and vegetables (2 servings a day) to your diet and reducing your fat intake, you can reduce your total caloric intake and weight.
What foods should I avoid in case of GERD?
Knowing your "triggers" can take a little time and experimentation. You may find it helpful to eat common foods that trigger GERD, while other seemingly harmless foods may unexpectedly light up your symptoms. The best thing to do is to pay attention to your body and adapt your diet accordingly. With this in mind, here are some foods and eating habits known to commonly trigger acid reflux.
- Foods high in fat, such as french fries
- Fat dairy products, such as cheese, whole milk and butter
- Tomato sauce
- Chocolate
- Garlic and onion
- Spicy food
- Beverages containing caffeine, eg coffee
- Alcohol
- Soft drinks
- Late night meal
What is a gastrectomy?
This operation involves removing some or all of the stomach, diverting the passage of food from the remaining areas to your intestines.
Your doctor will usually recommend a gastrectomy only if you have a stomach problem such as stomach cancer, stomach polyps, severe ulcers or bleeding, which do not occur in your stomach. Will not improve with other treatments.
More rarely, partial gastrectomy or gastric bypass can be recommended as part of a weight loss plan for morbidly obese patients.
What foods should I eat after a gastrectomy?
After a gastrectomy, your lifestyle may have to change. You should still be able to eat many of the same foods, but you may need to test your tolerance very slowly. Foods high in fat, for example, may be more difficult to digest, while some patients discover that they are developing a new intolerance to dairy products. It is often recommended to take 6 small meals (or more) a day instead of the usual 3 main meals, as well as to chew well to facilitate digestion. The texture and consistency of food can be changed in the first few weeks after surgery.
In general, a person who has had a gastrectomy can always eat the following, depending on his tolerance:
- Whole loaves
- Dry cereals
- Rice, pasta and noodles
- potatoes
- Fresh fruits
- Vegetables
- Meat and fish
- Eggs
- Beans and lentils
If you do not know what to eat, consult a dietician.
What foods should I avoid after a gastrectomy?
After a gastrectomy, your digestive system will have less space to store the food you eat before they enter the small intestine, which complicates the regulation of the digestive process by your body. This can cause food to "spill" into your intestines too quickly. Known as "dumping syndrome", it can cause cramps, pain, dizziness and a sudden drop in blood sugar. This phenomenon is very common in post-gastrectomy patients (especially just after surgery).
The dumping syndrome can occur "early" (15 to 30 minutes after eating) or "late" (90 minutes – 3 hours after eating), and some foods make it more likely to occur. Sugary foods, for example, quickly absorb body water, which can contribute to symptoms. For this reason, you may need to avoid:
- candy
- Sugary drinks
- Cakes
- biscuits
- Pastries
- Dairy products
- Alcohol
You should also wait for at least 30 minutes before or after a meal, as drinking while eating may also contribute to early satiety syndrome and dumping. Both can make you miss nutrition and potentially malnutrition.
What can I do more to plan a healthy diet with stomach problems?
The most important thing to do with any stomach disorder is to listen to your body. What negatively affects someone else may not affect you in the same way, and vice versa. Keeping a food diary can help you keep track of "safe" foods and foods to avoid unwanted annoyances.
If you have specific health problems or if you need more important nutritional advice, consult a doctor or dietician.
Article examined by
Natalie Goh, Chief Dietician at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital
Louis Yap, dietician at Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Dr. Chia Chung King, Gastroenterologist at Parkway East Hospital
References
Dumping syndrome. (North Dakota.). Retrieved April 19, 2018 at https://www.nostomachforcancer.org/about/life-without-a-stomach/special-concerns/dumping-syndrome.
Dumping syndrome: causes, foods, treatments. (North Dakota.). Accessed April 19, 2018 at https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/dumping-syndrome-causes-foods-treatments#2.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). (North Dakota). Retrieved April 19, 2018 at https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/reflux-disease-gerd-1#1.
Higuera, V. & Madell, R. (March 18, 2018). 7 foods to help your acid reflux. Accessed April 19, 2018 at https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/diet-nutrition#helpful-foods.
Krans, B. (November 20, 2017). Gastrectomy Accessed April 19, 2018 at https://www.healthline.com/health/gastrectomy.
McDermott, A. (May 16, 2016). Will eating apples help if you have acid reflux? Retrieved April 19, 2018 at https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/apples-and-acid-reflux.
What foods should I eat? (North Dakota.). Retrieved April 19, 2018 at https://www.nostomachforcancer.org/about/life-without-a-stomach/special-concerns/what-foods-should-i-eat
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