new to gerd... what CAN we eat and drink?

The information on what foods to avoid is called a trigger food diet. Theoretically, you can eat anything else. Also try a one-week elimination of wheat and milk, they are fairly common triggers.

The Koufman diet has helped some with LPR (throat symptoms). It is low acid and low fat, but I believe the low fat part is based on old digestive science. I think reducing the acidity if things going down your throat is a great strategy for LPR, including drinking alkaline water and gargling frequently.

I'm currently on the Fast Track for Heartburn diet. I eat unlimited proteins (meat, eggs, fish) but more limited carbs including starches and sugars. The research of this diet's author has found that SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) is very common in people with GERD. You would need to buy the book to effectively follow this diet. SIBO can be treated with diet, and potentially I will be able to eat a wider variety of foods than I have been able to eat for the past two years since my GERD was diagnosed.

The stories posted here are widely varied. It seems that there is a variety of conditions underlying GERD, so the diet and treatments vary.

Rockhopper! I was wondering how things stood with you. I started a thread on the Fast Track Diet, so maybe you want to post there. I started the diet in late November. I also created my own meals, just including foods with lowest FP. I have obtained phone consult from Norm, and he has cut back my carbs even further. I am down to a couple of TUMS per day, had to taper off my Zantec. Then yesterday I realized that the gum I was chewing, Orbit, had both Sorbitol and Xylitol, not permitted on this diet.

Thank you so much for mentioning this diet. I was searching, and I now believe this diet is better than Koufman, based on more recent and very different digestive research.