Garlic Helps with GERD

You may have read in many places how garlic should be avoided if you have GERD.  However, I've read tons of blogs where people have said the opposite.  I found this article that may help to explain why garlic may or may not help:

Eat Garlic & Parsley: This is one of the biggest myths you will see on line, not to eat garlic. Garlic is one of the great plant healers. The garlic must be crushed or chopped up to release the components. Don't buy garlic that is shipped in from over seas. All garlic that comes into America from over seas has to be irradiated before entering the country. This kills the healing properties. Only buy local grown garlic. Parsley is another great healer. It is not only for garnish. Get fresh parsley, mince it up with the garlic and add it all fish, chicken or meat dishes. Add parsley minced (stems too) to all types of salads, soups and stews. Add a handful into the juicer when juicing other vegetables to pack a healthy punch.

 So, I ran to the store and bought myself some locally grown garlic.  I can't say it's cured me, but it definitely has not hurt.


Also, take a look at more information:

How Garlic Works

• Garlic contains the enzyme allinase and alliin, an amino acid. When a garlic clove is attacked by bacteria or crushed, the enzyme reacts with the amino acid to produce allicin. The new compound is known to fight off bacterial infections, such as those which cause acid reflux symptoms.

Using Garlic

• In order for allicin to be produced, a garlic clove must be damaged, either through biting, chewing or crushing. To relieve acid reflux, you should chew garlic thoroughly before swallowing, or blend a clove with fruits or vegetables in a juicer and consume immediately.

Prevention/Solution

• Whether garlic will be good or bad for acid reflux relief depends on how it is consumed. Despite the known health benefits, in some instances, garlic remains listed as a food to avoid to prevent acid reflux, as are other foods used to create spicy, highly seasoned dishes. These types of foods aggravate the condition rather than help it.

I think the reason why garlic is still listed is because we're all so use to just buying garlic from the super market.  According to articles, this garlic has lost all its original healing properties because import regulations require that the garlic be irradiated (exposed to radiation).

Almonds Keep the GERD Away

So I realized today that I can eat almonds without ever getting any GERD.  I was surprised today that I was able to just eat a handful of almonds (never too much, because we know over eating is no good). I thought "I'm cured," because I didn't feel any GERD.  So, of course, I went looking for the reason.

Eat Raw Almonds: There is a lot of powerful good things packed into these little tear-shaped nuts that are very beneficial to people that suffer from acid reflux. They are packed full of protein and amino acids. Grind them up into almond milk for another healthy food to replace junk food in the acid reflux diet. Almonds will help your heartburn and acid reflux.

However, some say that almonds is actually a trigger for GERD.  It's definitely not the case for me, but you try it and see:

PropertiesThe USDA reports that almonds have more than 200 calories and nearly 18 g fat per 1/4 cup. Nutritionally, almonds can still serve as part of a healthy diet because most of their fat content is unsaturated and they contain none of the cholesterol that meat- and dairy-based fats have. However, in terms of GERD, the source of fat does not matter; almonds still run the risk of causing the LES muscle to relax or weaken. Prevention and AlternativesIf you have GERD, you may already know that almonds are a trigger food for you, or you may never have experienced symptoms related to almonds. Just because almonds have properties that can encourage reflux does not mean they're a trigger for everyone, so it's not necessary to eliminate them from your diet entirely until you judge your own reaction to them. However, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center does suggest avoiding all nuts if you have chronic GERD and instead, choosing fats such as vegetable-based oils and plain cream cheese. You may also find that traditional GERD remedies, such as wearing loose clothing and maintaining a healthy weight, can offer relief.

Because it seems this topic is still up in the air, I suggest you try eating a bit of almonds and see how you feel.  Like anything, don't eat too much and try to have a varied diet.