Bushra Griffith
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic digestive condition in which stomach contents flow back up into the oesophagus. This causes symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty swallowing, and a burning sensation in the chest or throat. While diet does not cause GERD, eating certain foods can aggravate symptoms. These include fatty foods, fried foods, spicy foods, and acidic foods. Dairy products, for example, are high in fat and can worsen heartburn. Cheese, in particular, can relax the valves connecting the stomach and oesophagus, with softer varieties like feta and mozzarella having a more pronounced effect.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Feta cheese Gerd-friendly | No |
| Reason | Feta cheese is a soft cheese that is high in fat and can aggravate symptoms of GERD. |
| Alternative cheeses | Parmesan and Swiss cheese have less of a reflux effect than softer types. |
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What You'll Learn
Feta cheese is high in fat, which can aggravate GERD symptoms
Feta cheese is soft and high in fat, which can aggravate GERD symptoms. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic digestive condition where the contents of the stomach flow back up into the oesophagus. This is the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. GERD occurs when the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) opens when it should be closed. The LES is a ring of muscle that usually keeps the top of the stomach closed. It opens when you swallow food, but in people with GERD, it opens at other times, allowing stomach acid to escape into the oesophagus.
Fatty foods can relax the LES, increasing the risk of acid reflux. Eating high-fat dairy products like cheese can make heartburn worse and aggravate GERD symptoms. Feta is a softer cheese, and softer cheeses have a more significant reflux effect than harder varieties. For this reason, people with GERD should avoid eating feta cheese, as it can trigger their symptoms.
People with GERD should avoid eating fatty foods, fried foods, spicy foods, and acidic foods. They should also avoid coffee, chocolate, alcohol, raw onion, and garlic. Instead, they should eat low-fat foods and small meals to avoid putting pressure on the LES. Eating smaller meals more frequently is better than eating large meals two or three times a day.
If you have GERD, you can eat low-sugar fruits, small amounts of low-fat dairy (including yogurt), oatmeal, avocados, whole-grain toast, cereals, and eggs. You can also eat low-acid fruits like peaches and bananas. While soft foods like oatmeal can be comforting, people with GERD often crave foods with a crunchy texture. In this case, try a toasted whole-grain English muffin topped with nut butter or non-fat cottage cheese.
If you want to include dairy in your diet, stick to low-fat dairy or plant-based milk. Dairy products are high in fat and can make heartburn worse. Cold dairy products like ice cream can inhibit the LES's function, allowing stomach acid to backwash into the oesophagus.
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Dairy products can make heartburn worse
Dairy products are one of the most common triggers of acid reflux, or heartburn, both among people who suffer from GERD and those who don't. This is due to the high-fat content of many dairy products. However, some sources suggest that dairy is not a recognised cause of acid reflux.
GERD, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, is a common yet chronic digestive condition in which the contents of the stomach flow back up into the oesophagus. This is the tube that carries food from your throat to your stomach. A ring of muscle called the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) usually keeps the top of your stomach closed. However, when you swallow, it relaxes and opens. GERD occurs when the LES relaxes and opens when you are not swallowing, allowing stomach contents to flow back up the oesophagus.
The oesophagus does not have the same protection as the stomach against acid and digestive enzymes, so contact with stomach juices can damage its lining. This causes a burning sensation in the chest that can move up into the neck and throat. This is known as heartburn.
If you experience heartburn after consuming dairy, you could try switching to low-fat dairy products. Lower-fat varieties may help to reduce acid reflux. However, if you are lactose intolerant, you may need to cut out dairy altogether. Lactose intolerance occurs when you do not produce enough lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose, which is the sugar in milk. If you are lactose intolerant and consume dairy, you may experience a range of digestive symptoms, including heartburn.
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GERD patients should avoid fatty foods
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic digestive condition in which the contents of the stomach move back up into the oesophagus, causing an uncomfortable burning sensation. While no specific diet can prevent the condition, eating and avoiding certain foods may ease symptoms for some individuals.
Fatty foods are one of the worst culprits for triggering reflux. This is because fatty foods linger longer in the stomach, making it more likely that stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus, causing uncomfortable GERD symptoms. Therefore, GERD patients should avoid fatty foods such as ice cream, cheeseburgers, and cookies.
Cheese is also high in fat, and soft varieties such as feta and mozzarella have a more pronounced reflux effect than harder types such as Parmesan and Swiss cheese. Hence, GERD patients should avoid or limit their consumption of feta cheese, as it may trigger their symptoms.
In addition to fatty foods, GERD patients should also avoid other trigger foods such as chocolate, citrus fruits, onions, peppermint, tomatoes, and spicy or fried foods. Alcohol and soda should also be avoided as they relax the valves connecting the stomach and oesophagus, allowing stomach contents to flow back up.
Instead of fatty foods, GERD patients should opt for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unsaturated fats, such as the Mediterranean diet, which has been linked to a lower risk of GERD. Lifestyle changes, such as eating smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding late-night dinners and bedtime snacks, can also help manage symptoms.
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Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid reaches the oesophagus
Feta cheese is considered to be a soft cheese, and softer cheeses such as feta and mozzarella are known to have more of a reflux effect than harder varieties such as Parmesan and Swiss cheese. Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a common yet chronic digestive condition. It occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the oesophagus, the tube that carries food from your throat to your stomach. Normally, a ring of muscle called the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) keeps the top of your stomach closed, only relaxing and opening when you swallow. However, in people with GERD, the LES relaxes and opens even when you are not swallowing, allowing stomach contents to flow back up the oesophagus.
GERD symptoms include heartburn, a burning sensation or pain in the chest that can radiate to the jaw, caused by gastric acid flowing back up into the oesophagus. Other symptoms include regurgitation, the backflow of partially digested food and gastric contents into the mouth, and dyspepsia, which includes burping, nausea after eating, bloating, and upper abdominal pain and discomfort. These symptoms can occur after eating a meal, as the stomach produces acid after you eat. Risk factors for GERD include eating certain foods such as chocolate, citrus fruits, onions, peppermint, tomato, or spicy or fried foods, and taking certain medications, including aspirin and drugs for asthma, high blood pressure, allergies, depression, sleep disorders, and pain.
If you are experiencing acid reflux, it is recommended that you see a doctor, who may prescribe medication such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to reduce stomach acid production. In more severe cases, your doctor may refer you for further tests to determine the cause of your symptoms, such as a gastroscopy, or surgery to stop acid reflux. While medication can help manage symptoms, it is also important to consider lifestyle changes, such as adjusting your diet and daily habits, as these can also contribute to reflux. Overeating, consuming rich and fatty foods, drinking excessive amounts of coffee, and smoking can all trigger reflux.
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GERD is a common chronic digestive condition
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic digestive condition characterised by the flow of stomach contents back up into the oesophagus. The oesophagus is the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. Normally, a ring of muscle called the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) keeps the top of the stomach closed, only relaxing and opening when you swallow. However, in people with GERD, the LES opens when it shouldn't, allowing stomach contents to flow back up. This results in symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and dyspepsia.
GERD is a chronic condition, meaning it persists over an extended period, often a lifetime. It is also a common condition, with many people experiencing symptoms such as heartburn. Heartburn is a burning sensation or pain in the chest that can radiate to the jaw. It is caused by gastric acid flowing back up into the oesophagus. Other symptoms include regurgitation, which involves the backflow of partially digested food and gastric contents into the mouth, and dyspepsia, characterised by burping, nausea after eating, bloating, and upper abdominal pain or discomfort.
GERD symptoms can be triggered or worsened by certain factors. One of the key factors is diet. Eating certain foods can relax the LES, increase stomach acid production, or keep food in the stomach for too long, aggravating symptoms. High-fat foods, such as ice cream, cookies, cheeseburgers, and cheese, can relax the LES and are best avoided. Within the dairy category, softer cheeses like feta and mozzarella tend to have a more pronounced reflux effect compared to harder varieties like Parmesan and Swiss cheese. Chocolate is also high in fat and contains caffeine and theobromine, making it a triple threat to reflux. Citrus fruits, including lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruit, are high in citric acid, which increases stomach acid production and can worsen symptoms. Spicy and fried foods, onions, peppermint, tomatoes, and alcohol can also trigger reflux.
Managing GERD symptoms often involves dietary modifications. Eating small meals is crucial, as large meals can put pressure on the LES, causing it to open and allow stomach contents to escape. Choosing low-acid foods, such as low-sugar fruits, and low-fat dairy products in small amounts can help. For breakfast, GERD-friendly options include oatmeal, whole-grain toast, low-sugar cereals, and eggs prepared with minimal oil. Avoiding fatty, fried, spicy, heavily sweetened, or acidic foods, as well as coffee, chocolate, alcohol, and raw onion or garlic, is generally recommended.
In summary, GERD is a common chronic digestive condition characterised by the backflow of stomach contents into the oesophagus due to improper functioning of the LES. It results in symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and dyspepsia. Managing these symptoms involves dietary modifications, such as avoiding reflux-triggering foods and adopting a diet centred on low-acid and low-fat choices consumed in small portions. While softer cheeses like feta can be more triggering for reflux, moderation and portion control are key, and small amounts may be tolerable within the context of a GERD-friendly diet.
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Frequently asked questions
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common yet chronic digestive condition in which the contents of the stomach flow back into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and dyspepsia.
Feta cheese is not GERD-friendly. Feta is a soft cheese that is high in fat, which can aggravate GERD symptoms. It is better to opt for low-fat dairy products or plant-based alternatives when managing GERD.
GERD-friendly foods include low-sugar fruits, small amounts of low-fat dairy (e.g. yogurt), oatmeal, avocados, whole-grain toast, cereals, and eggs prepared with minimal oil.
