What is the Best Diet for Heartburn? (2024)

FAQs

What should I eat when I have heartburn? ›

Gut-friendly water-based foods like celery, cucumber and watermelon can help counteract stomach acid. Like its name suggests, watermelon is made up of 92 percent water and has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which helps ease digestion.

Good foods to eat for dinner to avoid heartburn include leafy greens, non-citrus fruits, ginger, oatmeal, healthy fats, seafood and aloe vera juice.

Herbal teas (chamomile, licorice, and ginger), low fat milk, plant-based milk (oat, flax, or almond milk), smoothies, coconut water, and nonacidic juices (cucumber, carrot, and aloe vera) may help you manage acid reflux symptoms. Remember to opt for unsweetened and noncarbonated drinks.

Low in fat, egg whites are easier to digest, so they may be less likely to trigger your GERD. However, egg yolks are high in fat, so may increase your chances of getting acid reflux. If you want to include eggs in your diet, you could consider removing the yolks first.

Whole grains — High fiber, whole-grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and whole-grain breads help stop symptoms. They are a good source of fiber and may help absorb stomach acid, reducing the risk of symtoms. Lean protein — Low-fat, lean sources of protein also reduce symptoms of acid reflux.

Oatmeal and Wheat: Try Whole Grains for Breakfast

Oats also absorb stomach acid and reduce symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). For something sweet, top your oatmeal with bananas, apples or pears. The fructose in these fruits is less likely to trigger acid reflux than other sugars.

What meat is good for heartburn? ›

Lean Meats

Fatty meats have high levels of saturated fat, which is known to make heartburn worse. Choosing leaner cuts of meat such as chicken breast, tilapia, pork tenderloin, and top sirloin can help reduce your overall saturated fat intake.

Potatoes. Potatoes — either boiled or baked and prepared without high-fat toppings — are a good option to help you prevent acid reflux. Try to stay away from french-fries and potato chips though. As good as they taste, their high fat content can cause stomach discomfort.

Is pasta good for acid reflux? By itself or with little sauce and cheese, pasta shouldn't trigger acid reflux. However, specific ingredients and toppings can lead to heartburn in people prone to it, such as heavy tomato or cream sauces, lots of garlic and spices, and carbonara (cream, cheese, and bacon).

Try drinking herbal teas, coconut water, smoothies, and plant-based milks. Learn… Learn how Carafate might help treat symptoms of GERD and what you should be aware of before starting it.

Antacids. The oldest and best-known medicines for treating heartburn, they have remained popular because they're fast-acting, inexpensive, available without a prescription, and are safe for most people when used as directed. Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, and Tums are examples.

Eating high fat foods like peanut butter, especially in large quantities, may worsen acid reflux symptoms for some people. If you have acid reflux symptoms, you may want to wait to try peanut butter until your symptoms are gone. Some home remedies like ginger or peppermint tea may help relieve acid reflux.

To relieve symptoms of heartburn, your doctor may recommend antacids, proton pump inhibitors, or H2 receptor blockers. If the medication isn't alleviating the heartburn, your doctor may suggest surgery, such as: open repair.

For example, patients with GERD should avoid overly-processed, high-fat snacks like french fries, onion rings, and potato chips. If you want a snack and have GERD, consider healthy, high-protein, and lean snacks like bananas, egg whites, carrots, and whole grains.

How to make acid reflux go away? ›

Is pasta good for acid reflux? By itself or with little sauce and cheese, pasta shouldn't trigger acid reflux. However, specific ingredients and toppings can lead to heartburn in people prone to it, such as heavy tomato or cream sauces, lots of garlic and spices, and carbonara (cream, cheese, and bacon).