Hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach moves from being in the abdomen to lodge in the chest.
When we eat, food passes from the mouth into the esophagus, which is in the thoracic cavity, and from there it goes to the stomach, located in our abdomen. The thorax and the abdomen are separated by a muscle called diaphragm and the esophagus communicates with the stomach through a hole in the diaphragm called hiatus.
The problem occurs when part of the stomach passes through the hiatus into the thoracic cavity as this facilitates gastroesophageal reflux (GER), that is, the contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus. When this happens, the esophagus, which is not protected like the stomach to withstand the acids of digestion, becomes irritated and this is when we begin to suffer the symptoms mentioned above.
Dietary recommendations
To improve the symptoms produced by hiatal hernia, it is important to follow a specific therapeutic diet. This should be created according to tolerances, personal tastes and in line with our lifestyle, while being balanced with our energy expenditure.
As general considerations, it is important to reduce weight whenever necessary as it will lighten the pressure on the abdomen leading to an improvement of the symptoms.
In addition, meals should not be excessively large, as this makes digestion more difficult and increases the chances of reflux. It is much more advisable to eat lighter meals more frequently. The way food is cooked also influences the prevention of reflux. Anything that is not boiled, baked or steamed should be avoided. And, special caution with grilled food, if the food burns it can irritate the stomach.
Discouraged foods
Just as there are practices that will help alleviate the symptoms, there are also certain foods whose intake should be eliminated or reduced in order to avoid the discomfort they produce in the stomach when digested. This is the case of spicy foods, very salty foods, alcoholic and carbonated beverages, acidic foods (tomatoes, vinegar, citrus fruits…) and also certain condiments.