The Relationship Between Diet and GERD in Infants
GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease is a disease that occurs when there is a movement or reflux of stomach contents back up into the esophagus. Because there are usually lots of acids contained in the stomach contents, there tends to be an inflammation and irritation when this occurs.
There is no specific group of people that can develop GERD, as adults and children can both suffer from it, even infants. It does not occur more often among members of a family and is not related to the occupation, income, race or social status of any group of people.
The relationship between diet and GERD in infants is one of great importance, especially since an improper diet is one of the most aggravating factors in any GERD condition. By eating certain foods you are adding to the acid levels in your body, thereby allowing the condition to get worse and the symptoms of it more intense.
Diet and GERD in infants is particularly important because infants have a much thinner and more delicate stomach lining than adults. Therefore they will not only tend to suffer from much more pain but as well are more likely to have permanent damage done to their bodies.
Diet and GERD in Infants
When it comes to the topic of diet and GERD in infants, the most important thing is to understand what foods should be avoided. Certain foods can aggravate the symptoms associated with the condition and should not be eaten at all, if possible.
Orange juice, tomatoes, mashed potatoes, fresh fries, onions, ground beef, marbled sirloin, buffalo wings, cottage cheese, spaghetti, and chicken nuggets, all of these are foods that can aggravate your GERD symptoms and so you should avoid them completely if you can or at least limit how much you eat of them and how often.
When it comes to diet and GERD in infants it is also a good idea to keep a food diary, because this way you can keep track of what you are feeding the infant and notice whether they are making any improvement, particularly when you remove the aggressing foods from their diet.
Exercise is also important here and plays a major role in terms of your success in dealing with the condition.
If you have an infant suffering from GERD it is important that you get them in to see the doctor as soon as possible and make sure that they get appropriate treatment as soon as possible.
