15 Worst Foods to Avoid with GERD

Have you ever heard of GERD? It’s short for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or Disorder, and we’ll be referring to it as GERD for the rest of this article just because it’s easier. It’s a condition that affects approximately 20% of people who are already suffering from chronic heartburn or indigestion, and it’s one of the more dangerous ways for the condition to manifest: GERD turns the condition into a chronic one and one that can have serious implications for your health.

Managing the condition is down to a combination of prescription medication and managing the symptoms by changing your diet: There are many foods that can aggravate GERD and make you feel considerably worse. If you want to feel better, start by cutting some of the foods in this list out of your diet and see how you feel afterward. Here are 15 of the worst foods to avoid if you have been diagnosed with GERD.

1. Grain Products

Grain products make up the staple diet of millions of people all over the world, but there are many people out there who simply can’t consume grain products. This could be because of the fact that they suffer from wheat sensitivity or gluten intolerance, or it could be because of the fact that grain products are a huge contributing factor to what’s been causing their heartburn.

Grain and wheat products like bread should be avoided if you have GERD, as it can cause indigestion and even stuff up the colon, causing a lot of pain and discomfort in the process. After GERD surgery, it’s common to start craving bread and other wheat products – and the cause of this craving isn’t completely known – but you should cut down on grain products and ignore this craving if you have any problems with GERD at all. If the problem continues despite dietary changes, you should see your doctor.