You may be surprised to see coffee, tea and alcoholic drinks are allowed on the diet. I have found no convincing evidence that either caffeine or alcohol contributes to GERD symptoms. I believe that GERD symptoms associated with these drinks are actually caused by additives – for example, sucrose (table sugar) in coffee and tea,

Fewer symptoms in Asian populations could be due in part to Asian preferences for short grain rice over long grain rice and other starch containing foods. Short grain rice contains no amylose

oats, wheat, potatoes, corn, and beans contained 10 to 20 percent malabsorbed, fermentable material.

It turns out that avoiding five difficult to digest carbohydrates is the key to symptom relief. As I mentioned in previous chapters, they are fructose, lactose, resistant starch, fiber, and sugar alcohol (which is similar to a carbohydrate).

Resistant starch is found in seeds, nuts, whole grains, cereals, bread, pasta, most rice varieties, most potato varieties, corn, certain fruits such as unripe bananas, and legumes such as beans and lentils. Undercooked, or cooked, then cooled foods contain more resistant starch than fully cooked or hot foods. In many ways, resistant starch is

Asian sticky rice (also known as glutinous rice) and jasmine rice have very low fermentation potentials indicating they are heartburn friendly.

Recommended FP total for a single meal: FP between 0 and 10 is considered low. FP between 10 and 15 is considered moderate. FP equal or greater than 15 is considered high.

Also avoid sweetened wines, non-light beer, sweetened soft drinks, lactose-containing milk and milk products like non lactose-free ice cream, as well as all fruit juices.

Fructans are long chains of fructose that include fructooligosaccharide and inulin. They are found in wheat, artichokes, garlic, onions, unripe bananas, asparagus and green beans. Fructans are highly fermentable by some bacteria, notably Bifidobacteria, which is considered to be a healthy inhabitant of the