What vegetables are OK for acid reflux? (2023)

What vegetables are not acidic?

Asparagus, spinach, kale, and brussels sprouts all are highly alkaline, meaning they're good for your stomach and digestive system. Being naturally low in fat and sugar, vegetables also help lessen stomach acid.

Green vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, leafy greens, peas, cucumbers, and Brussels sprouts are known to prevent and alleviate acid reflux. In addition to being very low in fat, these vegetables are also high in alkaline content. The low pH offsets the high pH of the stomach acid.

Dijon Herb Vinaigrette

Mix 3 TBSP champagne or white wine vinegar with 1 TBSP Dijon mustard. Add 1 TBSP finely chopped parsley, 1 TBSP fresh basil or ginger and 1 TBSP marjoram or thyme. Slowly whisk in 1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive oil.

There are several fruits and vegetables which can help you keep acid reflux at bay. Here are five of them: Carrots: Being rich in fibre, carrots not only make your food healthier but also make you feel full faster thereby preventing overeating.

Raw or cooked, vegetables are generally good for an acid reflux diet. Be sure to avoid onions, tomatoes, or peppers. Recommended vegetables include all root vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, and carrots. Other great vegetables include mushrooms, fennel, and celery.

Salads are good news for those with chronic heartburn or GERD - if you have the right salad dressing and ingredients, that is. High-fat foods are a known trigger for acid reflux, so the National Heartburn Alliance recommends avoiding creamy salad dressings, as well as oil and vinegar.

Fried and fatty foods can cause the LES to relax, allowing more stomach acid to back up into the esophagus. These foods also delay stomach emptying. Eating high-fat foods puts you at greater risk for reflux symptoms, so reducing your total daily fat intake can help.

Skinless chicken makes a great low-acid diet staple.

What foods absorb stomach acid?

Whole grains — High fiber, whole-grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and whole grain breads help stop symptoms of acid reflux. They are a good source of fiber and may help absorb stomach acid. Lean protein — Low-fat, lean sources of protein also reduce symptoms. Good choices are chicken, seafood, tofu, and egg whites.

Broccoli: All green vegetables are good for acid reflux, but because broccoli is also high in vitamin-C, it is a superfood in terms of easing your acid reflux symptoms.

Replace Acidic Foods

Some people with heartburn can tolerate small amounts of ketchup, but it may be safer to use reduced-fat mayonnaise or mustard instead.

A healthy fat like extra virgin olive oil may help combat the symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (or GERD) according to a recent article in Webmd.com.

Foods to Eat on an Acid Reflux Diet

Noncitrus fruits: Apples, bananas, blueberries, and strawberries are safe bets.

Add the following foods to your meal planning to manage symptoms of acid reflux: Green, leafy vegetables: They're low in fat and sugar and help reduce stomach acid. Examples include green beans, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, lettuce and cucumbers.

By itself, corn isn't necessarily a heartburn trigger, but by slathering it with butter (a notorious heartburn trigger) you're pretty much asking for a disaster! Leave the butter behind and enjoy the corn by itself, whether it's on the cob, boiled, grilled, or however else you like to prepare it.

Pickle Juice: Can It Help With Acid Reflux? That's right — many people who suffer from acid reflux swear that drinking pickle juice is a fast, natural way to help relieve their symptoms.

Cooking tomatoes won't reduce the acidity enough to prevent acid reflux either, so next time you are making pizza sauce, trying whipping up some fresh pesto instead, and try to limit (or eliminate) tomatoes from your diet.

Some veggies that reduce heartburn include cucumbers, leafy greens, broccoli, green beans, potatoes, asparagus and cauliflower. Try these options for a light and tasty lunch: ​Baked potato with steamed broccoli.

Are mashed potatoes OK for acid reflux?

Potatoes. All root vegetables, except onion, are good for heartburn.

What might be an easy meal for some may be heartburn hell for others. Popular ingredients in sandwiches, such as tomatoes, and fatty foods, such as bacon, are common causes of heartburn.

Foods with high water content

Foods with high water contents can help dilute stomach acid and ease acid reflux. Leafy greens, such as lettuce and spinach, are made up primarily of water as are celery, cucumbers and zucchini. In fact, celery, iceberg lettuce and cucumbers contain 95 percent water.

Eggs are neither good nor bad for acid reflux. They won't help your symptoms but are not known to trigger symptoms either (However trigger foods can differ from person to person, so if eggs cause you problems I would limit your intake.)

When you have frequent GERD symptoms, like heartburn, eating high-fat dairy products like cheese can aggravate your symptoms. Furthermore, cold dairy products like ice cream can actually numb and inhibit the lower esophageal sphincter's function. As a result, stomach acid can backwash up into the esophagus much easier.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center lists peanut butter as a good option for people with acid reflux. You should choose unsweetened, natural peanut butter when possible. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center specifies that smooth peanut butter is best.

Arabica beans have less acid than Robusta beans, so choose a blend with 100% high-quality Arabica. Look for coffee roasted in smaller batches.

Gelatine also helps seal the colon so that nutrients may be absorbed. It helps food gel within the stomach for more consistent digestion; reduces heartburn, ulcers, and acid reflux by binding acids with the foods and can also help break down fats and proteins which will make it easier for your body to absorb.

What fruit can I eat that is not acidic?

Melons – Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew are all low-acid fruits that are among the best foods for acid reflux. Oatmeal – Filling, hearty and healthy, this comforting breakfast standard also works for lunch.

Examples of acid-forming foods (pH0 to 7)are meats, poultry, eggs, dairy products, sugary drinks, snacks, wheat products, coffee, mayonnaise, milk, alcohol, and ketchup; examples of neutral foods (ph7) are natural fats, sugars, and starches and examples of alkaline foods (pH 7 to 14) are vegetables, legumes, fruits, ...

In many cases, this type of esophagitis may be triggered by foods such as milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts and seafood. However, typical allergy testing does not reliably identify these culprit foods. People with eosinophilic esophagitis may have other nonfood allergies.

Ginger Root

It's thought to contain anti-inflammatory properties. This may reduce overall swelling and irritation in the esophagus. There are very few side effects associated with ginger root, unless you take too much.

Toast. Toast is easier to digest than bread as the toasting process breaks down some of the carbohydrates. Toast can help decrease nausea and reduce heartburn, but not all toast is the same.

Broth-based soups

If it's soup you fancy, opt for one that is made from broth instead of cream, which will aggravate reflux symptoms. Also, look out for tomato-based broths, as they also tend to aggravate heartburn. Chicken noodle soup is a good option.

Ginger Ale is a popular option for settling an upset stomach and quelling nausea and abdominal discomfort related to vomiting, diarrhea, and other illness. Ginger tea is gentle on your stomach and can be used to prevent or treat acid reflux and even motion sickness!

Fibre content and healthy complex carbs in rice are great to reduce heartburn.

Many people are surprised to learn that the common cooking ingredient olive oil can actually prompt acid reflux symptoms. Like other oils, olive oil has a high in fat content and can cause the lower esophageal sphincter or LES to relax, leading to heartburn and acid reflux.

Is butter good for acid reflux?

Saturated fats such as butter, cream and cheese, can be especially bad for acid reflux, so try to ensure that the fats you eat are healthier unsaturated ones, such as avocado or walnuts.

While many apples and grapes are regarded as OK for someone with acid reflux to eat, it is wise to avoid particularly sour varieties of these fruits as well.

Fresh pineapple may help improve reflux symptoms. This is because of the concentrated amount of bromelain present. Bromelain is known to be anti-inflammatory and has an alkalizing effect.

Asparagus, spinach, kale, and brussels sprouts all are highly alkaline, meaning they're good for your stomach and digestive system. Being naturally low in fat and sugar, vegetables also help lessen stomach acid.

Yogurt that is not too sour is also excellent for acid reflux, because of the probiotics that help normalize bowel function. Yogurt also provides protein, and soothes stomach discomfort, often providing a cooling sensation. It is easy to choose foods by looking them up to see how acidic they are.

Strawberries are a more acidic fruit, with a pH of around 3.5.

Green leafy vegetables are naturally low in fat and sugar and help to reduce stomach acid secretions. Spinach, broccoli, kale, asparagus and Brussels sprouts are highly alkaline which are good for the gut and offer respite from acid reflux.

Many breakfast foods are filled with fat, which is a huge problem for reflux sufferers. Fried eggs, bacon, pancakes covered in butter and bagels slathered in cream cheese—these can cause serious heartburn, so it's best to stick with something leaner. Your best option may be a bowl of cereal with skim or soy milk.

Alkaline hot drinks

Your best bet is a nice cup of hot tea. Boiled water is alkaline and so are most teas. Plus, tea has a slew of killer health benefits. A glass of warm milk can also do the trick.

How do I make my body less acidic?

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.

Reflux can make you gassy, so skip foods that can make that worse, like beans and dried fruit. Mild veggies like lettuce and celery are healthy, low in calories, easy on your stomach, and they won't cause more gas.

Eat plenty of whole foods naturally low in fat and sugar, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nonfat dairy, and fish. Steer clear of fatty meat, sugary drinks (especially carbonated drinks), processed foods, and fatty, sugary desserts. Drink little or no alcohol and caffeine.

As Cucumbers are alkaline, they do not trigger acid reflux. Consequently, cucumbers do not contribute to GERD. However, if eaten with acidic or spicy foods – this combination may then worsen reflux symptoms.

Drinks such as ginger tea, certain fruit and vegetable juices, and plant-based milks may benefit people experiencing acid reflux and heartburn. Avoiding citrus juices, carbonated beverages, and alcohol can also help to reduce symptom frequency and severity.

People who wish to try apple cider vinegar for mild reflux can mix between a teaspoon and a tablespoon of the vinegar into a glass of water. Taking this before or after meals may reduce acid reflux symptoms in some people.

Foods that use tomatoes in sauces are another culprit for acid reflux symptoms. Pizza, pasta, chili, stews, and soups tend to include all three of these ingredients. Citrus fruits are another type of highly acidic food.

Onions are a common heartburn trigger because they stimulate acid. However, cooking the onions can help put out the fire, Gazzaniga-Moloo says. Shallots and green onions provide a more mild onion flavor, but they could still be GERD triggers for you.

A healthy fat like extra virgin olive oil may help combat the symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (or GERD) according to a recent article in Webmd.com.

Is avocado okay for acid reflux?

Avocados. Avocados go down easy in more ways than one: These low-acidic fruits (yes, they are actually fruit) are smooth and creamy, making for an easy passage down your esophagus—important for people with acid reflux who often experience inflammation or irritation of their esophageal lining.

Some veggies that reduce heartburn include cucumbers, leafy greens, broccoli, green beans, potatoes, asparagus and cauliflower. Try these options for a light and tasty lunch: ​Baked potato with steamed broccoli.

Broth-based soups

If it's soup you fancy, opt for one that is made from broth instead of cream, which will aggravate reflux symptoms. Also, look out for tomato-based broths, as they also tend to aggravate heartburn. Chicken noodle soup is a good option.

Peanut butter generally isn't considered to trigger acid reflux, but it may affect some people differently. Although peanut butter has several health benefits, it's also a high-fat food. These foods can increase acid reflux symptoms.

Milk and dairy products are high in fat and tend to make heartburn worse. When you have frequent GERD symptoms, like heartburn, eating high-fat dairy products like cheese can aggravate your symptoms. Furthermore, cold dairy products like ice cream can actually numb and inhibit the lower esophageal sphincter's function.

Arabica beans have less acid than Robusta beans, so choose a blend with 100% high-quality Arabica. Look for coffee roasted in smaller batches.

Sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets are several root vegetables that can reduce acid reflux according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. They are fibrous foods that will fill you up and prevent you from overeating, which often causes heartburn. Other fibrous foods include green beans, asparagus, and broccoli.