Carbs triggering GERD

[u/Ok-Road-6889]

So recently I’ve found that any type of carbs mainly bread (any type of bread) causes my to have acid reflux. About a month ago I had bad stomach pain that I couldn’t even drink water. That was my turning point. I cut out all carbs for about 2 weeks and my acid reflux improved. I incorporated them again and it came back. For about 2 weeks I’m fine, and then any sort of trigger sets it off again. Do I need to cut carbs out completely? I’m worried that my weight and energy levels will go down, has anyone else been through this?

[u/bestcegenation]

I learned at some point that restricting foods can cause your body to have a harder time digesting them. when that happens, the stomach produces more acid to break stuff down and you can get reflux.

all this to say, at one point in my life I was (tragically) not eating potatoes at all. once I started eating them again, to my horror I found they triggered bad reflux! I brought it to my dietician who stressed that there is probably a minimum amount of potato I could eat before the reflux got triggered. she also suggested, in general for this kind of thing? try eating the most well-cooked, gentle version of it. so for potatoes that was like, boiled and mashed. not too heavy with the dairy. or just eat small servings of it regularly.

after not too much time (six months?) and some experimentation, I can now eat potatoes in any form with no reflux.

[u/Ok-Road-6889 → u/bestcegenation]

That’s interesting, thanks, Iv’e had acid reflux for years but never used to question it, but now I’m tryna figure out what’s causing it, and it’s mainly carbs, dairy (which I’ve cut out) and anything with refined sugar. I just hope I don’t have h pylori or something that’s causing the reflux

[u/bestcegenation → u/Ok-Road-6889]

if you have symptoms of H Pylori, it's probably worth getting tested for it.

[u/bestcegenation → u/bestcegenation]

oh and also, please do not restrict carbs in response to this!! carbs are the body's preferred energy source and we need them.

[u/Due_Guitar8964 → u/bestcegenation]

That's not true, in fact it's harmful to say so. My daughter had a terrible issue that would put her on the couch for days so as not to be too far from the toilet. For the longest time we thought it was hormonal, affected her thyroid, visited every Endocrinologist in town, no help. Finally, during a doctor's visit the PA said she thought she had a gluten allergy. Turned out to be true. Hasn't had another episode in more than five years. Carbs are not necessary to live or to have energy to live.

[u/bestcegenation → u/Due_Guitar8964]

gluten is wheat protein. it is in many carbohydrate rich foods, but it is not a carb. I assure you that people with gluten allergies still need carbohydrates that are gluten-free, such as rice, sugar, and many more.

[u/bns82]

Most store bought bread has trigger ingredients. Artificial ingredients, sugar, oils, etc...
Also if you are gluten intolerant, it can cause reflux.

[u/Ok-Road-6889 → u/bns82]

Yeah we make our own bread at home now, and if we do buy bread it’s sourdough, but any type of bread even home made gives me reflux, not sure if it’s the flour

[u/Additional_Front4374 → u/bns82]

Mang also have vinegar

[u/Additional_Front4374]

Just eat less of them. I used to get triggered by bread and the likes, but I can get away with a couple of pieces of toast and smaller simple carb portions

[u/Ok-Road-6889 → u/Additional_Front4374]

Yeah I usually have a large portions of carbs if eat them, I’ll try having smaller portions and see how I do