Are Carbohydrates Linked to Reflux? Science Finds Out

Recent research has looked at the relationship between simple carbohydrate consumption and worsening gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which food involuntarily flows back up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn, pain, and a dry cough. Studies suggest that eating foods high in simple carbohydrates, such as refined pasta and sweets, can worsen this problem. One example is a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology , in which scientists from the United States divided 98 participants between the ages of 47 and 72 into four groups, each following a different diet for nine weeks: high or low intake of total and simple carbohydrates.

Read also:
The food festival will have free seminars and workshops in Natal.

The results showed that reducing carbohydrate intake, both total and simple, led to an improvement in GERD symptoms. The scientists analyzed factors such as the length of time the esophagus was exposed to stomach acid, the total number of reflux episodes, and the presence of symptoms. All groups that reduced their carbohydrate intake showed improvement, with the greatest benefit seen among those who ate fewer total and simple carbohydrates. The control group, which maintained a high intake of both types of carbohydrates, showed no significant changes.