Throat Problems, Esophagus Diseases, Esophageal Disorders Symptoms for Dietary Treatment

Your throat lies just behind your mouth, and air, food and liquid pass through it.  Your esophagus is a food and liquid carrying tube between your throat and stomach.

Moving food and liquid from your mouth to stomach requires a coordinated action of your mouth, throat, esophageal propulsive waves and sphincter relaxation. Problems with any of this activity may cause one or more of these symptoms:

You likely don’t pay much attention to your throat and esophagus until you swallow something too big, hot, and cold.  Or when something goes wrong.

Throat problems are prevalent, every body has had a sore throat on occasion.  The cause of this is usually a infection.  Often viral, sometimes bacterial or fungal, for instance:

Other frequent causes for throat problem symptoms are allergies, post nasal drip and vomiting.

The most widespread problem, disease or disorder with your esophagus is gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD.  (Over time, GERD can cause serious damage to your esophagus.)

Some other esophageal problems, diseases or disorders that may affect your throat or esophagus are:

A serious liver disease, such as cirrhosis, can cause esophageal varices.  This is enlarged veins in the lower part of your esophagus.

The strength of esophageal contractions and tension in the sphincters decreases with age. This condition makes you more prone to back flow of stomach acid.

And undersirable weight loss is an indicative symptom that an elderly person may be having a problem in their throat or esophagus.

Treatment depends on which one of the foregoing problems, diseases or disorders are causing your throat or esophagus issue.  Sometimes, an OTC throat medication or change in diet is all that is necessary.

Dietary treatment begins with avoiding these types of foods during an acute episode of a throat or esophagus problem:

  • very hot
  • alcohol, caffeine
  • tart, acidic, salty foods
  • pickled, vinegary, tomato base
  • mouthwashes containing alcohol
  • citrus fruit juices ~ grapefruit, orange, lemon, and lime
  • rough textured, hard  ~ dry toast, granola, raw fruits & vegetables
  • irritating spices ~ chili powder, cloves, curry, hot sauces, nutmeg, pepper

Dietary treatment in substitution encompass eating soft, creamy foods.  Some examples:

  • eggs
  • yogurt
  • syrups
  • gravies
  • cheeses
  • custards
  • puddings
  • ice cream
  • casseroles
  • milkshakes
  • cream soups
  • cooked cereals
  • mashed potatoes
  • liquid meal replacement

A few other helpful recommendations surrounding dietary treatment during a short term throat or esophagus problem are:

  • moisten dry foods
  • puree chunky food
  • consume soothing lukewarm, cold foods
  • suck on frozen fruit pops, fruit ices, ice chips.
  • season your food with mild herbs ~ basil, oregano, thyme

If you are experiencing an ongoing discomfort with your throat or esophagus, get with your health care professional to discover if a chronic disease or disorder is at the root of your food and liquid transport problem.

Throaty Related Health Blurbs:

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