The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Raja (Bangalore, India) on 09/29/2008
★★★★☆
I have been suffering from severe GERD for the past three years.I used all kinds of antacids and none did work for me.
I believe poor bowel movement is also makes GERD severe. Keeping the stomach clean is a part of getting relief from GERD.
I started walking at least an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. I started taking two cups of fruit salad daily. I started finshing dinner at least three hours before going to bed. The result is now I am almost free of the hellish reflux, i ndigestion and constipation.
But I'm not sure whether it has been cured...
Dietary Changes
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, TN) on 11/20/2007 490 posts
★★★★★
The best remedy I have found for indigestion, acid regurge, GERD, flatulence is elimination of all bleached flour products in the foods you eat - I find I can eat l00% whole grain bread without problems (usually cures most people's constipation problems also). I don't know what chemicals? are used in the bleaching process, but apparently that is where the problem comes from. However, you must really work at getting bleached flour out of your diet, as many pastas are made with bleached flour, many breads say whole wheat but read the ingredients and you'll find that most start off with bleached flour unless the label reads l00% whole grain. Most gravies, dips, sauces, etc. use the cheapest source of thickening agent - bleached flour. So try it and see if it works for you. It's nice having a "cast iron stomach" which has no problems with cayenne pepper, jalapeno peppers, and all that spicy stuff I used to blame my stomach problems on before I lucked up and stumbled upon the real cause of them.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Diane (Long Beach, NY) on 01/04/2007
★★★★★
I used to eat a high fiber,low fat diet (norm robillard's low carb approach). The gas started to build over several months resulting in terrible stomach pains after every evening meal. My cholesterol shot up as well. I decided to get rid of the high fiber breads and cereals. I don't eat dairy. After a few days, my gas decreased and I didn't need my aciphex for gerd anymore. When I cheat, I get gas and reflux. Also, my cholesterol dropped back to normal. My diet is vegetables, some protein, small amounts of fruit, some nuts. I walk almost everyday and use a recumbent bike on rainy days. Sugar in any form is the worst High carbs are sugar. Bread in any form makes my reflux worse. I can cheat but not everyday. I was able to take my bed off its blocks back to ground level and could also lay down after eating.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Joe (Oak Forest, IL) on 09/17/2006
★★★★★
I don't know why, but whenever I am (able) to stay on a low carb diet, my GERD goes away, I sleep better, my skin improves, etc. And......this is when I am eating all I want, and even late at night. I'm not sure why this works, but I thought I was the only one. (Nexium works great, but I bloat with water weight gain.)
Dietary Changes
Posted by Cliff (Dallas, TX) on 09/15/2006
★★★★★
Less food volume intake per meal. More light snacking. Organic foods preferred. Never lay down after eating for 2-3 hours. Has not cured GERD, but has reduced symptoms significantly.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Charmaine (Peekskill, NY) on 09/14/2006
★★★★★
No eating or drinking rich beverages after 8pm and always brush and or gargle before going to bed. Also cut down on fatty foods and coffee. I think the prevalence of GERD is related to ubiquitous coffee shops and the resulting increase in consumption of coffee.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Gurt (USA)
★★★★★
I did research in medical journals over gerd/acid reflux since it was causing some health problems. What I found was that carbonated drinks build pressure in the stomach pushing the acid back into the throat. I drink one carbonated drink mid-morning then juice, water and decaf-tea during the remaining day. I also found that caffeine relaxes the muscle that becomes weak with gerd. It was a slow process to cut back on the caffeinated drinks and caffeine but now I am feeling so much better.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sherry (Orlando, FL)
★★★★★
I'had acid reflux for 2 yrs. and when I went on the Atkins Diet, I never even expected such a sudden cure! I then went to the Atkins Online forum and did a search about acid reflux to see if others had the same experience on this diet. AMAZING! I found other people on the forum saying their acid reflux is gone too as a result of this low carb diet. I realized that the HIGH CARBS were the CAUSE of the GERD ALL ALONG!! As I type this, I know I will sleep just fine again tonight as a result of this discovery!!! I can only hope that this helps others who are suffering.
Replied by Judyj
(Olympia, Washington, Usa)
01/10/2011
★★★★★
Dietary Changes
Posted by Nancy (Agoura Hills, CA)
★☆☆☆☆
I have never taken much ibuprofen, but I have been a rather regular user of Excedrin in the past (aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine). I don't take it anymore. My GERD started after I had been on a lo-carb diet for about 5 months. I had never had trouble before. I think the high fat/high protein diet wasn't the best thing for GERD. I went off the diet immediately, but the GERD never left (it's been two years now). Just for your information. I am not overweight and I exercise daily.
Digestive Enzymes
Posted by Paolo (Bloomington, In, Usa) on 05/16/2013
★★★★★
My mother has GERD pretty bad a many senior citizens do. Of coarse things like dairy, sugary products, fatty meats, etc, exacerbate it. Controlling her diet is helpful but not always possible as she feeds herself as well. She used to be on nexium which I hear is the number one selling medication in America. I guess a lot of people have GERD. This worked but was expensive. I also found out not told by our doctor but through personal research that people who take nexium have an increasingly high risk of hip fractures as the medications stops the acid but also blocks to uptake of Important minerals like calcium.
So I got her off the nexium and started giving her all natural antacids which contain blueberry leaf and power. This worked much better than the tums which actually seemed to make things worse. But still it was a battle.
Finally I read a doctors newsletter that spoke of this condition and he among other things recommended digestive enzymes to relieve the stress on the digestive system. This worked like a charm. I give her usually just one digestive enzyme with her dinner since the evening is when it acts up the most. Since then not a single bout of GERD has come up. Thanks God this did the trick. I can't highly recommend this remedy enough.
Digestive Enzymes
Posted by Coye (Newberry, SC) on 09/05/2007
★★★★★
I had moderate asthma and chronic gerd. I started using a natural enzyme that contained PAPAYA!! I take the tablets everyday. I haven't had a problem or symptom since I've taken them.I've read many studies that papaya helps withs gerd!!
Digestive Enzymes, Baking Soda
Posted by S. Jones (Litchfield, Mn) on 08/18/2011
★★★★★
I have tried it ALL. Prilosec, Zantec, Nexium, Apple Cider Vinegar just to name a few.
I have found IT! Digestive Enzymes with Betaine HCl. It works. I doubled the dose for the first week per my natural doctor I see, and then brought it down the next week to normal dosing. Take with every meal. Give this at least a week to do its thing! Oh and along with that take NO GERD, that contains Licorice Root Extract... double that dose for a week as well.
In the meantime to relieve the pain, try 1tsp Baking Soda in a 1/2 glass of water.
Esophageal Resistance Training
Posted by vera (beulah, co) on 07/15/2023
★★★★★
Fermented Food
Posted by Blessed Farm (Little Town, Wa, Usa) on 06/25/2011
★★★★★
The BEST pickle juice I've found to work is from fermented pickles, not the vinegar ones. The MAIN problem with GERD is the lack of gut flora balance, I've found, and increasing probiotic foods, especially in the form of ferments, has helped me tremendously. I, too, was having GERD to the point of thinking I was having a heart attack. Cutting out ALL grains, starchy veggies, sugars (other than RAW honey), and processed carbohydrates, taking HCL with pepsin with each meal, plant enzymes after each meal, and drinking and eating LOTs of fermented foods each day is what is helping me.
If I get a flare up, a quick trip to the fridge for a sip of juice from one of the ferment jars, or a cup of Kombucha, often does the trick. If not, then I know I have TOO much acid for some reason, and I reach for NOW brand's Acid Comfort. It's a blend of vitamins, minerals and enzymes to help calm the effects of the acid.
Fermented Food
Posted by Anne (Detroit, MI, USA) on 09/01/2008
★★★★★
I was reading over natural cures for Acid Reflux, or GERD, and noticed no one mentioned sauerkraut. I have been using this and it does work wonders. I used to get pains like aliens eating through my body from the GERD, and the sauerkraut has helped immensely. I don't like the taste of it, so I'm going to try a few things mentioned on this site. 2 tblsp sauerkraut 2x daily helps clear the nausea and pain for me.
