Should I eat a special diet if I have Barrett’s esophagus?

The number one goal in treating Barrett’s esophagus is to stop the damage to the esophageal lining. The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach and is made of different layers. Getting rid of, or reducing gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD (a condition where acid from the stomach comes out into the esophagus), is the main priority to stop damage to the esophagus. If you have GERD, you can help prevent or relieve those symptoms by changing your diet and behaviors. Decreasing fatty foods and eating smaller more frequent meals rather than three large meals a day can help reduce acid reflux. Other foods to avoid, which may make GERD worse are coffee, chocolate, peppermint, greasy and/or spicy foods, tomatoes and tomato products. Acidic juices like orange and tomato juice can aggravate acid reflux. Additionally, alcoholic drinks can increase your risk of acid reflux. Eating right before bedtime or lying down after a meal is likely to worsen acid reflux. Talk to your doctor about ways to manage your diet to reduce the symptoms of GERD.

Other Questions About Barrett’s esophagus

• Will I need to have more endoscopies for Barrett’s esophagus?
• Will I need surgery for Barrett’s esophagus?
• Where can I find others with Barrett’s esophagus?
• When should I get an endoscopy for Barrett’s esophagus?
• What other health problems are caused by Barrett’s esophagus?