Can a Plant-Based Diet Reduce Acid Reflux?

Most acid reflux sufferers have trigger foods that cause symptoms to arise, such as processed snack foods, fatty meats, cheese, or fast food. Such foods take longer to digest, allowing gastric acid to slip into the esophagus. More nutritious food that is heavily spiced can also trigger reflux.

For those who want to reduce acid reflux with lifestyle changes, a plant-based or vegan diet could be worth trying. Such diets emphasize alkaline foods, including vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and seeds. A plant-based diet can help to neutralize stomach acid because of the alkaline-promoting foods you consume while following the diet.

According to research published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, 63% of those using a plant-based diet to manage reflux showed significant improvement, which is even better than the 54% who benefited from conventional medical intervention.

While changes in diet may not eliminate reflux, they can alleviate it to the point where an episode may be very rare. This may help protect individuals against complications of chronic acid reflux.

Learn more about the benefits of a plant-based diet for individuals living with acid reflux.

5 KEY BENEFITS OF EATING A PLANT-BASED DIET IF YOU EXPERIENCE ACID REFLUX

1. IMPROVED DIGESTION

The foods you consume while following a plant-based diet are full of fiber, which when consumed, makes digestion easier. This can lead to a reduction in the amount of gas in the stomach during the digestion process, lowering the odds of regurgitation. It can reduce the feeling of bloating and make moving the bowels easier as well.

2. REDUCED OVEREATING

Plant-based fiber also has the benefit of making reflux sufferers feel sated sooner. Feeling full without consuming too much food can reduce the stomach’s contents and mitigate acid reflux. When you’re full, it is also less likely that you’ll snack between meals.

3. NATURAL & EFFECTIVE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Obesity is an independent risk factor for gastric issues that cause acid reflux. Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight may help some reflux sufferers, which is reason enough to focus on eating cleaner. Many people report weight loss in the first months of a plant-based diet.

4. REDUCED STOMACH ACID & ACID SEVERITY

Stomach acid plays an important role in digestion, but it can also cause damage to the intestines. A plant-based diet helps neutralize stomach acid and reduce the total amount in the body. This is another way a plant-based diet directly counteracts the aggravating factors of acid reflux.

5. REDUCED NEED FOR OTC & PPI MEDICATION

Over-the-counter medication undeniably helps some reflux patients in the short-term. However, many of these products have long-term side effects. They may also be risky when mixed with medication your doctor prescribes.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most common class of medication prescribed for acid reflux relief. While PPIs are very effective, using them for the long term could be dangerous. Recent evidence suggests that people should try to transition to safer alternatives if possible.

A plant-based diet is a natural and healthy way to reduce OTC medication dependence and the need for PPIs.

PLANT-BASED REFLUX RELIEF

A plant-based diet can minimize acid reflux and improve your overall health. Reflux Gourmet is an all-natural supplement that harnesses the healing power of alginates – making it an excellent addition to a plant-based diet. We are confident that our vegan and gluten-free formula is the best supplement on the market to aid in the reduction of acid reflux.