A new study shows if you have frequent and persistent heartburn you’re probably better off sticking to a high fiber diet, low fat diet.
High fiber diet has long been heralded for its preventive role in colon cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, but researchers say this is the first time they been shown protect against gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD, or heartburn, leads to symptoms of acid indigestion, which affects about one in five Americans. Most people have GERD when the esophagus comes in contact with stomach acids. Left untreated, GERD can lead to ulcers and bleeding of the esophagus. It can also increase the risk of cancer of the esophagus.
Researchers found that the daily intakes of total fat (including saturated fat) and cholesterol were significantly higher in people with GERD symptoms. The higher the number of calories consumed and fat servings, the more likely a person was to have GERD symptoms.
The researchers note that the increased GERD risk could be due to the fact these participants were more likely to be overweight or obese than those who followed lower-fat diets. Obesity can trigger or aggravate GERD symptoms.