It’s common to have acid reflux (also known as heartburn) occasionally, but there are some individuals who endure excruciating pain, bloating, or gurgling almost every moment they put food in their mouths. The disorder known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is a chronic form of acid reflux affecting around 20% of the population.
People who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) often turn to diet as their first line of treatment since it has such a significant role in reducing acid reflux discomfort. As per medical specialists, these people must avoid foods that slow down the digestion process and remain in the stomach for a longer period of time. Because this might make your heartburn worse!
The worst offenders are foods that are heavy in fat, salt, or spice. For instance, fried cuisine, fast foods, pizza, chips and several other industrially produced munchies, powdered chilies, and meats that are high in fat, like sausage and bacon, cheese. You should make every effort to avoid consuming such issue meals, especially late at night or in the hours leading up to sleep. This will prevent the food from remaining in your stomach and causing discomfort when you lie down for the night.
Does drinking milk help relieve heartburn symptoms?
Never in your wildest dreams, could you think that drinking milk can aggravate acid reflux. Right? Well, it can, if the milk is high in fat!
Nevertheless, you must take into account that milk is available in a number of different forms, including skim milk and otherwise nonfat milk, whole milk with a high quantity of fat, and 2% fat milk. And that, all of them will impact your stomach differently.
Milk’s high fat content might make acid reflux symptoms worse. However, drinking nonfat milk may give instant relief from the feelings of heartburn by acting as a momentary buffer between the interior of the stomach and the acidic fluids of the stomach. The same calming effects may be achieved with low-fat yogurt, which also contains a beneficial amount of probiotics. Still, there are various factors to consider while deciding whether or not to make the move, including lactose sensitivities, lactose allergies, or a preexisting medical issue.
So, if you are suffering with the condition, making the perfect diet plan and are confused about including milk or not, we’re here with the best milk types.
So, keep reading!
What type of milk is ideal for someone who suffers from acid reflux?
When you have acid reflux, it may be tough to figure out which meals and beverages your system is susceptible to because of the constant back and forth of stomach acid.
The following are some of the best plant-based milks for acid reflux, as determined by research:
Almond milk
If you begin your morning with a milkshake made with almond milk, you will have less stomach troubles for the rest of the day.
Almond milk is a fantastic acid neutralizer, which is why it is often recommended to patients who often have reflux. Because it is alkaline, it assists in the neutralization of acidic meals. If you want to prepare a nutritious milkshake that is also delicious, try mixing together one cup of kale, one frozen peach to make it thick, and one cup of unsweetened almond milk.
You can also combine it with a few tablespoons of Kefir, a fermented milk drink, and with a teaspoon of aloe vera juice for a calming combination that is effective in treating heartburn.
This combination can assist in relieving symptoms since the juice from the aloe vera plant lessens inflammation and recovers the GI tract, and the alkaline kefir neutralizes acid.
However, you should limit your use of aloe juice since drinking too much of it might cause stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Soy milk
People who suffer from GERD can consider switching to a plant-based diet that includes more soy products. Because soy products are alkaline, in contrast to the acidic nature of all types of meat and the majority of legumes, which are acid-forming foodstuffs.
In contrast to dairy milk, the alkaline composition of soy milk makes it a healthier choice and among the finest milks for those who suffer from acid reflux.
The majority of dairy products have more fat than soy milk does, which is one reason why drinking soy milk may help lessen acid reflux or heartburn problems.
Yogurt
Yogurt, much like milk, may temporarily serve as a buffer to alleviate the symptoms of heartburn.
One of the reasons we’re indicative of acid reflux is because it provokes injury to the inner layer of the esophagus. Milk and yogurt provide a coating for the esophagus, which prevents the lining from being irritated by the acid.
Skim and low-fat milk
Medical specialists recommend choosing variants that are prepared from skim milk or low-fat milk instead of ones that are manufactured from whole milk. Because the latter is high in fat.
Fatty foods give rise to the opening of a muscle that separates the stomach and esophagus, causing acid from the stomach to go upward. In addition to this, milk that is richer in fat remains in the gut for a longer period of time, which increases the likelihood of acid reflux occurring.
Cold milk
It is often said that consuming cold milk may help avoid acid build-up because the cooling effect of the milk gives almost rapid alleviation from the burning feeling that one experiences when they have reflux. That’s why a very typical home treatment for acid reflux is a tall, iced-down glass of milk.
Is it wise to drink milk with acid reflux?
To tell you the truth, the majority of individuals are split on the question of whether or not this treatment is effective or only makes the feelings of heartburn worse in the long run. Plus the fact that there is no easy solution that can be applied universally is an additional source of frustration.
In order to reach the bottom of what can make your preferred dairy beverage a successful treatment or fuel to feed the fire, let’s investigate the following components.
- Due to its alkaline content, almond milk is an excellent treatment option for acid reflux. This assists in reducing and diluting the acid that is produced in your gut, which in turn lessens the discomfort associated with acid reflux.
- People who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may find relief from the decreased lipid content of soy milk in comparison to regular milk.
- Acid reflux symptoms should improve if you switch to plant-based milk.
- If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you should make every effort to steer clear of any non-dairy milks that could include carrageenan because this ingredient can aggravate your digestive problems.
Milks that Can Trigger Acid Reflux
Besides all the amazing milk types we’ve discussed above, there are two that may aggravate your situation. And they are hazelnut milk and cashew milk.
Even though it has been shown that the antioxidants included in hazelnuts may help decrease inflammation within the body, consuming hazelnut milk might induce heartburn. The pH of hazelnuts is 6.8, and they may be mildly to highly acid forming depending on the context.
When consumed with milk, these fatty nuts have a natural tendency to impede the emptying of the stomach. When the evacuation of the stomach is hindered, the acidic contents of the stomach might come back up into the esophagus, which can cause heartburn.
Cashew milk is a milk that is heavy in fat and produces acid when consumed. This is the reason why some people get acid reflux or heartburn when they consume cashew milk.
Cashews have a high fat level, and despite the fact that the majority of the fats in cashews is unsaturated, the fatty acid profile of cashews may slow down the pace at which the stomach empties and impose stress on the esophageal sphincter.
Conclusion
Consuming a diet that is well balanced is the most effective method for preventing, mitigating, and treating acid reflux. Under the guidance of a nutritionist or dietitian, you can switch to an alkaline diet if your pH levels seem to be more acidic. Also, make an effort to select acid-forming products that are beneficial to your health, including low-fat dairy products, plant-based meats, nutritious grains, and especially plant-based milks like almond milk or soy milk.
