Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux is a very widespread disorder that afflicts a very large percentage of the world population. In most cases, this is a problem that can be kept under control: just keep an eye on your diet and put in some effort. Some dietary recommendations along with a fair amount of common sense can make the difference, and avoid digestive problems and reflux. Acid reflux: what is it
Contents
- Acid reflux: what it is
- Main causes and consequences
- I sintomi
- Diagnosis
- Treat yourself with medication or diet
- Foods allowed and not
- Allowed foods
- Foods allowed in moderation
- Recommended and permitted foods
- Foods not allowed
- Diet rules and recommendations
- Acid reflux: some ideas for your diet
Gastroesophageal reflux is a disorder that affects the digestive system and occurs, almost always, with acid regurgitation, especially after meals. This happens because the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach does not work properly and the contents in the abdomen go up the esophagus. Reflux is often accompanied by heartburn. Main causes and consequences
There are several causes of this problem, including:
- overweight . Being in a situation of overweight or obesity involves various problems for the body. In particular, the fat accumulated on the abdomen also presses on the stomach;
- smoke . Cigarette smoking is a major cause;
- stress;
- autoimmune neurological diseases ;
- excessive medication intake .
This disease can lead to serious complications such as esophagitis, Barrett’s metaplasia and esophageal ulcer.
It is essential to contact the general practitioner to assess the situation and intervene promptly. Symptoms
It is very important to recognize the symptoms of the disease immediately:
- acid regurgitation
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- nausea
- general fatigue
- chest pains
- asthma
- difficulty digesting
- frequent and continuous hiccups
- otitis
- laryngitis
- cough especially after meals
- lowering of the voice
- raucedine
All of these are the main symptoms. If you have one or more than one, try not to be alarmed. The first thing to do is to contact your doctor to immediately understand the cause of these problems.
Gastroesophageal reflux is a disease that affects about 15% of the Italian population. We can therefore say that it is quite common. Diagnosis
The diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease is given by the competent doctor after a careful examination. Usually, gastroprotective therapy is started for a short time and if no results are obtained, diagnostic tests should be performed. Some tests are helpful in diagnosing this problem, such as:
- the radiological examination of the digestive tract : during this examination you are made to drink a small amount of a contrast liquid to see how the esophagus, the stomach and the first part of the small intestine work;
- gastroscopy : the diagnostic test takes place with the introduction of an instrument from the mouth and allows to examine the stomach, esophagus and duodenum;
- esophageal manometry : in this case a probe is inserted into the nose and water is administered. It is used to identify any anomalies in the motion of the esophagus;
- 24 – hour ph-impedancemetry : it is an exam that lasts 24 hours and allows, through a tube inserted in the nose, to reach the esophagus, monitoring the refluxed material.
Treat yourself with medication or dietBeing a very common problem, proton pump inhibitors are the best selling drugs.
The problem is that many times this drug is not suitable because the form of reflux is different. It should therefore be avoided if it is not strictly necessary and on medical indication. A Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts has been shown to be as effective as taking these drugs. In another study, it was even found that patients who followed the Mediterranean diet reported greater positive effects than people treated only with drugs.
Your first choice should always be to follow a healthy and balanced meal plan. Foods allowed and not
In the presence of acid reflux, it is not possible to consume any food. We must pay attention and eliminate those elements that can increase the problem.
There are foods allowed, others allowed but if taken in moderation and others to be avoided. Allowed foods
Among the allowed foods there are some that must be eaten in moderation. Some are linked to the onset or worsening of reflux and only these you will need to reduce. Foods allowed in moderation
The foods that most commonly cause acid reflux and therefore need to be reduced are:
- whole foods;
- chocolate;
- some vegetables such as: tomato (especially raw), peppers, onion;
- citrus fruits;
- caffe, te;
- sodas
- wine (to be reduced to 1 glass per day).
As mentioned, you don’t have to cut down on all the foods mentioned above, but only those that are closely related to your deterioration. So if, for example, you have noticed that chocolate increases your acid reflux, you will only have to decrease this food, not the others on the list. Recommended and allowed foods
Suffering from gastroesophageal reflux does not mean giving up everything, these are the foods that you can consume with the indication of the allowed quantity:
- vegetables and fruit . A portion with each meal, but in the most serious cases only cooked or pureed;
- skimmed or semi-skimmed milk and yogurt ;
- cheeses . Milk flakes, first salt, cow mozzarella and grana padano;
- meat . Chicken, veal, pork (lean cuts), rabbit, turkey;
- fish . Sea bream, cod, sole and sea bass. Fatty fish such as salmon must be very limited (maximum once every two weeks);
- crustaceans and molluscs . However, consumption is limited to once a week;
- cold cuts : raw ham, cooked ham, bresaola, speck, sliced ​​chicken / turkey;
- eggs (absolutely not fried);
- extra-virgin olive oil (raw).
Remember to always drink plenty of water, in small sips throughout the day.
The recommended quantity is at least 2 liters . It is okay to exceed but without exceeding 3 liters . Foods not allowed
Some foods are absolutely to be avoided:
- fried foods ;
- pasta sauces that abound in oil , margarine or butter , lard ;
- very cooked meats: ragu , boiled meats , goulash , stews ;
- alcoholic beverages, especially spirits .
Diet rules and recommendations
In addition to a healthy and balanced diet, you need to follow a number of rules that will help you to significantly alleviate this ailment:
- eat slowly . The first digestion already takes place in the mouth and eating quickly significantly lengthens the residence time of the food in the stomach;
- make lots of small meals . Avoid binging at lunch and dinner. Better to break up the day with snacks that will allow you to eat less during the main meals;
- avoid foods and drinks that are too cold or too hot ;
- do not take too much fluids with meals.
- stop smoking . Smoking the ingested air is higher than normal and can promote reflux;
- do not wear clothes that are too tight ;
- do not lie down immediately after meals. Wait at least two hours;
- wait two hours after eating before exercising. Training immediately after meals and therefore during the digestion phase will have negative effects by increasing the possibility of reflux;
- if possible, modify the front of your bed by raising it 10 or 15 cm. In this way, even lying down you will prevent acid reflux;
- if you are overweight or obese, always start a diet under the direction of your doctor.
Acid reflux: some ideas for your diet
It is not necessary to follow a strict food diet. Just follow the guidelines provided in this article to already have an improvement. Having gastroesophageal reflux doesn’t mean depriving yourself of good food. Among the different recipes, you can also prepare:
- noodles with pumpkin;
- some aubergine and pork loin flans;
- fish strudel with vegetables;
They are all foods that if taken individually may not appear tasty, but combined with each other they will have a more than pleasant taste without creating any discomfort. If you think you have gastroesophageal or acid reflux, contact a competent doctor who can help you design your diet tailored for you.
