Reflux esophagitis is an inflammatory disease of the esophagus that is promoted by reflux of acidic gastric juice.

In case of doubt, an esophagoscopy (esophagoscopy) is performed to confirm the diagnosis. The cause is often a relaxed sphincter muscle at the lower end of the esophagus (= the lower esophageal sphincter is a muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach). Due to the increased backflow of this weak sphincter, acidic stomach contents can flow back into the esophagus, which leads to inflammation. As a rule, the disease can be treated conservatively, i.e. without surgery.

The muscle tone, and thus also the extent and frequency of reflux, depends on the composition of the food, the food pH value and the food temperature as well as other factors such as long tube feeding, various medications, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoke and other factors.

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Causes:

• Hiatal hernia (parts of the stomach enter the thorax through the hiatus)

• Insufficiency of the lower esophageal sphincter

• excessive gastric juice production

• intra-abdominal pressure increase (obesity, ascites, pregnancy, tight clothing)

• Diet: too much fat, alcohol, nicotine, coffee

• Drugs (opiates)

• pregnancy

• postoperatively after achalasia

Symptoms:

• Belching of acid, heartburn

• difficulties swallowing

• Complications: strictures, ulcers, bleeding

Diagnostics: endoscopy, X-ray

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Therapy:

• Conservative through medicinal acid blockers (PPI = proton pump inhibitor)

• If conservative treatment is unsuccessful: surgical therapy

• Overweight: reduction or normalization of body weight.

Why is nutritional therapy important?

In the case of reflux esophagitis, nutritional therapy supports you in counteracting inflammation and actively strengthening your immune system. You will find out which foods naturally have antifungal (against fungi), antibacterial (against bacteria), antiviral (against viruses) and antioxidant and immune-boosting properties - that is, they are almost natural antibiotics. Please note: A vertical body position supports digestive activity.

Weight reduction is recommended if you are overweight / obese. Alcohol should be reduced / avoided as much as possible as it increases the symptoms of reflux esophagitis. Chocolate leads to a reduction of the pressure in the lower esophagus and thus to an increase in reflux overall. Occasional consumption of chocolate is possible considering the overall situation and eating habits. A pronounced fat deposit in the area of the abdominal wall (apple type in the case of obesity) increases the pressure within the abdominal cavity considerably when lying on the back, which promotes reflux if the pressure in the lower section of the esophagus is not optimal. A normalization of body weight towards BMI 25 is often enough to massively reduce or eliminate the symptoms. Even large, bulky meals and a tendency to promote constipation (constipation) to reflux.

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As the food composition affects the tone of the lower esophagus. The distribution of nutrients (carbohydrate-protein-fat ratio) over the respective meals is therefore important to consider. Fat reduces the tone & can thus worsen the symptoms (reason: very likely due to the release of the hormone cholecystokinin). Carbohydrates reduce the tone insignificantly, protein-rich meals can greatly increase the pressure and thus reduce the symptoms. Meals rich in protein increase the gastrin concentration, while meals rich in fat and carbohydrates hardly affect the gastrin value. The muscle tone is increased by small amounts of gastrin, while the acid secretion in the gastric mucosa is not stimulated or is only insignificantly stimulated by small amounts of gastrin.

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With a meal plan that is right for you, with a base of digestible anti-inflammatory dishes, all of the fatty acids, micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) that are important for you, energy and protein (the amount of protein is adapted to your individual needs) as well as secondary phytonutrients should be supplied to the extent that they are Your body is optimally taken care of. For this purpose, foods that promote inflammation are specifically avoided and plenty of anti-inflammatory foods are consumed. An anti-inflammatory diet can improve your health.

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Classification of your weight - definition and classification of weight in relation to height.

Special percentile curves apply to children and adolescents; the BMI cannot simply be used here.

BMI and interpretation: BMI: body mass index. Formula: Body weight in kg : (body height in m) 2

Underweight: <18.5

Normal weight: 18.5 - 24.9

Overweight = pre-obesity: 25-29.9

Obesity grade I: 30 - 34.9

Obesity grade II: 35-39.9

Obesity grade III:> 40 = per magna

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Nutritional therapy

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• Anti-inflammatory nutrition as a basis, individually tailored to you

• Holistic therapy - do you have any comorbidities that need to be taken into account during the consultation?

• Calculate individual energy and protein requirements

• Overall fat selection, how should it be designed

• How many animal foods (e.g. meat products, milk and dairy products, cheese, fish products, eggs) are recommended?

• What do I have to look out for when choosing animal foods?

• How can I counteract inflammatory processes through diet?

• Body weight: Weight reduction is recommended if you are overweight / obese.

• In the case of insulin resistance and lipid metabolism disorders, also treat them with nutritional therapy

• Avoid micronutrient deficiencies and mineral deficiencies & possibly counteract them with nutrient preparations

• Prevent protein deficiency

• Which nutrients do I need in which ratio?

• Get enough fiber (> 30 g / day) through natural foods, possibly fiber substitution

• Sufficient fluid: total fluid per day: 30 - 35 ml per kg body weight and day. Attention, this is not just a drinking liquid. The liquid from food (approx. 500 - 800 ml) must still be subtracted from this, so that an amount of approx. 1.3 - 2 l of drinking liquid is created.

• add valuable anti-carcinogenic (anti-cancer) secondary plant substances

• A selection of foods tailored to your needs with cooking and technical information (for breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner)

• Do you like to eat your warm meal in the evening? I am happy to cater to your individual situation and we will create a plan on how you can implement your wholesome diet into your everyday life.

• which oils are good for me? What should I watch out for in relation to the anti-inflammatory diet?

• How much fat spread (butter / margarine / vegetable fat) can I use and which products are recommended?

• Get enough Omgea-3 fatty acids and essential fatty acids

• How can I boost and support my metabolism with natural foods?

• Coordinate sensible meal frequency for your individual case - meal allocation

• Define the desired weight stabilization / normalization & the estimated period for this

• what should be considered with beverages and alcoholic beverages?

• How does exercise affect your body and thus also your diet?

• Avoid blood sugar fluctuations

• Sweetening foods - sweeteners, glucose, fructose, sugar and sugar substitutes, what can I use and in what quantities? How high is the respective sweetness of the different products?

• what should be considered when baking and cooking?

• what are cheap snacks / main meals

• Eating out - what should you watch out for?

• Vacation, boat trip or hospital stay, what should be considered?

• Flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite, pain related to eating, what can I do about it?

• Daily plans as an example for practical implementation in everyday life

• Enjoyment training

• Optimizing your eating situation

• long-term maintenance of a jointly defined weight

• Strengthen the stomach and intestines with natural foods

• Additional therapy options

• Dietetic products in support of nutritional therapy

• Food supplements - under certain circumstances, a supplement can be useful

• and other topics

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Any questions? I look forward to your call or email. To contact form

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Assistance:

• KISS self-help groups

• Self-help network

• Zahn.de

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