What is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD):
GERD is a digestive disorder that affects your lower esophageal sphincter muscle (LES). This ring of muscle forms a valve where your esophagus and stomach meet. When you swallow, food or drink travel down your esophagus and the LES opens to allow food into your stomach. After the swallow is complete, the LES shuts. This prevents stomach acid from flowing up into your esophagus.
However, for people with GERD, the LES muscle does not work properly. If the LES weakens or doesn’t close tightly enough, stomach acid can escape back up into your esophagus. This is known as acid reflux. The pain is usually felt behind your breastbone, or in your neck or throat. It can leave a bitter or sour taste in your mouth or make it feel like food is coming back up into your throat. The burning pain can last for as long as 2 hours. Lying down or bending over usually make it worse. While heartburn is the common sign of GERD, it can come with other symptoms.
Symptoms of GERD:
Heartburn
Regurgitation of acid or food
Nighttime reflux and sleep disturbances
Nausea
Indigestion after meals
Chest pain
Sore throat
Trouble swallowing
Coughing or feeling the need to constantly clear your throat
Tooth enamel erosion
Poorly controlled GERD can lead to:
Damage to your esophagus
Increased risk of dysmotility, esophagitis, ulcers, strictures, Barrett's esophagus, or esophageal cancer.
Tooth Decay
Increased tooth sensitivity, increased risk of tooth loss
Chronic Cough
Lung Conditions
Anyone can develop GERD, however some people are at a higher risk:
Pregnancy
Being overweight or obese
Delayed stomach emptying (gastroparesis)
Connective tissue disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, or lupus
Diabetes
Hiatal Hernia
Certain medications
Some antibiotics, asthma medications, NSAIDS, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, blood pressure medications, and bisphosphonates.
Smoking, alcohol, unhealthy eating patterns can also aggravate GERD.
Why should you meet with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for GERD?
Diet and lifestyle are important contributors to GERD management. Some foods relax the LES muscle and/or irritate the esophagus which can worsen GERD symptoms. A Registered Dietitian can help you learn which foods to limit when diagnosed with GERD to improve your symptoms. A Dietitian will also support you with lifestyle recommendations such as alterations to sleeping positions, meal timing or weight management to help reduce GERD symptoms.
To book with a dietician click HERE
Thinking about working with someone for your nutrition? Before you sign up, it’s crucial to know who you’re taking health advice from. Anyone can call themselves a "Detox Specialist," "Holistic Health Coach," or "Wellness Nutritionist" overnight—literally. But Registered Dietitians (RDs) undergo years of clinical education, rigorous testing, and strict regulatory oversight.
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A nutritionally adequate diet is essential to promote healthy aging and prevent nutrition-related complications that could contribute to increased functional dependency and frailty. Aging, and age-related barriers can impose significant barriers to achieving a healthy diet. Meet with our Registered Dietitian to learn how the physiology of aging impacts your nutrient requirements and how adequate nutrition intake can support healthy aging.
MNT is a nutrition based treatment for acute and chronic conditions provided by Registered Dietitians. MNT includes a nutrition assessment, nutrition education and behavioral counselling to help prevent or manage a medical condition. (Please note, the Registered Dietitian does not diagnose medical conditions, but is able to provide a nutrition diagnosis related to a pre-diagnosed condition).
Adequate nutrition intake and following a healthy diet is essential to keep your body functioning well and can reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases. Meet with our Registered Dietitian to learn more about the fundamentals of nutrition and how healthy eating can be incorporated into your daily life.
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