The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked that all forms of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine (Zantac) be taken off the U.S. market in April 2020. S. market. They told people to follow this advice because some ranitidine products had too much NDMA, a chemical that is likely to cause cancer. People taking prescription ranitidine should talk with their doctor about safe alternative options before stopping the drug. People taking OTC ranitidine should stop taking the drug and talk with their healthcare provider about alternative options. Instead of taking unused ranitidine products to a drug take-back site, people should get rid of them by following the directions on the product or the FDA’s guidelines.
People who have acid reflux may feel better if they stay away from foods and drinks that make their symptoms worse, like spices and soda. People with these conditions may feel better if they eat a lot of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is when stomach acid regularly moves back up into the food pipe. This regurgitation lasts for a long time and can cause painful symptoms like heartburn and pain in the upper abdomen. The severity of the condition often relates to a person’s diet and lifestyle.
Avoiding trigger foods and following other dietary tips may relieve the symptoms of GERD. This article explores the foods that people with GERD may wish to exclude from their diet. It also discusses foods to include.
Not long ago, scientists didn’t fully understand GERD, and there wasn’t any proof that changing your diet could help your symptoms. A review from 2021 suggests that some foods, like fruits and vegetables, may lower your risk of GERD, but more research is needed.
Similar to this, a study from 2016 found that people who ate a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unsaturated fats were less likely to get GERD.
Vegetables are low in fat and sugar. They are also a suitable source of fiber, a beneficial carbohydrate. Suitable options include:
Eating non-citrus fruits is less likely to trigger GERD symptoms. Fruit is also a suitable source of vitamin C, fiber, magnesium, and potassium.
Egg whites are also fine, but egg yolks are high in fat, which may make GERD symptoms worse.
Additionally, when cooking proteins, try using lower-fat methods, such as grilling, broiling, baking, or poaching, instead of frying.
A general rule for GERD is to avoid high-fat meals. All types of fat can make GERD symptoms worse, but people should avoid or cut back on saturated and trans fats for better health.
Saturated and trans fats can be replaced with healthy unsaturated fats in moderation. These include:
Whole grains are suitable sources of fiber. Research links diets high in fiber with a reduced risk of heartburn symptoms. Some whole grain foods include:
GERD is a digestive disorder, so diet can often affect the symptoms of the condition. Understanding this, changing what you eat and how you live can help a lot with many types of GERD.
Animal foods, like eggs and fatty meats, tend to be high in saturated fats, which can make GERD symptoms worse. Examples include:
Come St. Patrick’s Day, many of us look forward to indulging in tender, delicious corned beef. But if you suffer from acid reflux, you may wonder if this fatty, salty meat is one holiday tradition you need to skip.
Let’s take a closer look at the connection between corned beef and acid reflux and how you can enjoy this classic dish without triggering discomfort
What Exactly Is Acid Reflux?
Before we dive into corned beef, it helps to understand what acid reflux is in the first place. Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus.
This leads to burning chest pain a sour taste in the mouth, and overall discomfort. It happens when the muscle between the stomach and esophagus relaxes or weakens, allowing acidic digestive juices to flow upwards.
Certain foods, like spicy dishes, caffeine, alcohol, and yes – high-fat meats – are common triggers. Lifestyle factors like obesity and smoking can also cause acid reflux.
What Makes Corned Beef a Potential Culprit?
Well-marbled with fat and bursting with salty flavor, corned beef checks a few boxes that make it a likely acid reflux trigger. Here’s why:
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It’s high in fat. The high saturated fat content in corned beef relaxes the esophageal sphincter, allowing acid to creep up.
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It contains nitrites. These preservatives found in processed meats may cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax.
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It’s salty. The sodium and brining agents draw more fluid into the stomach, increasing pressure on the sphincter.
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It’s acidic. With a pH around 5.5, corned beef creates an acidic environment in the stomach.
For those prone to reflux, corned beef is essentially a perfect storm of fat, salt and acidity. But that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to this St. Paddy’s Day staple entirely.
5 Tips for Enjoying Corned Beef With Less Reflux
If you’re an acid reflux sufferer who doesn’t want to give up corned beef, these preparation tips can help minimize the risk of flare-ups:
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Choose leaner cuts of meat with less marbling and trim excess fat before cooking. Go for round or sirloin tip rather than brisket.
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Opt for lower-sodium corned beef or rinse before cooking to reduce the salt content.
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Cook in an oven, slow cooker or pressure cooker instead of boiling to help break down fibers.
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Limit portion size to 3-4 oz. and pair with non-acidic sides like cabbage, potatoes or carrots.
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Avoid eating right before bedtime. Wait at least 3 hours between your corned beef dinner and laying down.
While corned beef is a classic Irish food, there are plenty of other St. Patrick’s Day favorites that are lower in fat. Dishes likeGuinness stew, salmon, boiled potatoes, and soda bread make flavorful, reflux-friendly alternatives.
9 Other Foods That Can Aggravate Acid Reflux
Corned beef isn’t the only cuisine that can ignite an acid reflux flare-up. Here are 9 other foods that commonly trigger symptoms:
- Spicy dishes like hot wings or curries
- Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea and soda
- Alcohol including wine, beer and cocktails
- Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit and tomatoes
- Onions, garlic and spicy peppers
- High-fat meats like sausage, bacon and fried chicken
- Chocolate, especially dark varieties
- Mint, either fresh or in gum and tea
- Carbonated drinks like seltzer and beer
Avoiding these foods can go a long way towards preventing reflux episodes. However, dietary tweaks alone usually aren’t enough to fully tackle acid reflux. Lifestyle changes and medications are often needed too.
When to See a Doctor About Acid Reflux
Most people experience occasional acid reflux that’s manageable with over-the-counter antacids and diet and lifestyle adjustments. However, if you have frequent, severe symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor.
Signs that your reflux may need further treatment include:
- Heartburn 2+ times per week
- Difficulty swallowing
- Persistent cough or hoarseness
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
- Vomiting blood or passing black stools
- Unintended weight loss
For moderate to severe reflux, prescription medications like H2 blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid) or proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Prevacid) are often needed. In rare cases, surgery to tighten the esophageal sphincter may be recommended.
The Bottom Line
Corned beef may be a once-a-year treat, but for acid reflux sufferers, once is enough to trigger discomfort. The high fat content and sodium overload in this St. Paddy’s Day staple are common reflux triggers.
However, with portion control, leaner cuts, and smart cooking methods, corned beef can be enjoyed in moderation. Pay attention to your body’s response and avoid eating it close to bedtime.
While corned beef is delicious, there are many other Irish-inspired foods that pack plenty of flavor without the acid reflux agony. So sláinte – to your health! Have a happy and heartburn-free St. Patrick’s Day.
Oils and high fat foods
These can cause the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus to relax, exacerbating GERD symptoms. They also slow down digestion.
Examples include:
- oils
- fatty meat
- butter
- baked goods
- cheese
- cream
- potato chips
High glycemic index foods, which are typically high in refined sugars, are linked with GERD symptoms. Examples include:
- white rice
- white bread
- baked goods
- potato chips
- sweet fruits
- breakfast cereal
- fruit juice
- soda
A 2021 review examined the relationship between cow’s milk allergy (CMA) and GERD symptoms in children.
The researchers found that children with CMA often experienced symptoms of GERD after consuming cow’s milk. Ongoing research is examining whether this also applies to adults. However, CMA is rare in adults because many allergic children develop a tolerance for cow’s milk by the age of 6 years.
The evidence for a link between reflux symptoms and milk is mixed. Some studies even suggest consuming milk is associated with lower rates of nonerosive reflux disease.
But people who regularly feel pain or bloating after eating dairy products with cow’s milk may find that cutting them out of their diet helps with these problems.
Some people choose to avoid common trigger foods, such as coffee and chocolate, to alleviate GERD symptoms. However, this approach has little clinical backing, while results vary between individuals.
Some common trigger foods may include:
- chocolate
- mint
- carbonated beverages
- acidic drinks, such as orange juice and coffee
- caffeine
- acidic foods, such as tomato sauce and citrus fruits
- spicy foods
- alcohol
People who have GERD might try cutting out each type of food to see if their symptoms get better. If symptoms do not improve, they can incorporate the food type back into their diet.
In 2022 guidelines for diagnosing and managing GERD, the American College of Gastroenterology suggests avoiding trigger foods to help manage GERD symptoms. However, they also state that there is little evidence to support this recommendation.
To ease the symptoms of GERD, experts say to follow a Mediterranean diet or a similar plan that is high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Some sample meal ideas include:
- oatmeal with berries
- poached eggs on whole grain toast
- avocado on whole grain toast
- mixed salad greens with whole grain pita bread and hummus
- brown rice with steamed vegetables and salmon
- whole grain bread sandwich with tuna and grilled vegetables
- vegetable, pesto sauce, and low-fat cheese on whole grain pizza
- baked skinless chicken with grilled vegetables and baby potatoes
- grilled vegetable skewers with hummus dip and salad
When a person swallows, food passes down the food pipe to the stomach. Some muscle rings at the bottom of the food pipe open to let food into the stomach. This is called the lower esophageal sphincter. It then closes up, to prevent the food from returning up the food pipe.
If the esophageal sphincter doesn’t close properly, stomach acid can leak back up into the food pipe and cause GERD.
Folks sometimes call GERD acid reflux or heartburn, but these are just signs of the disease and not separate conditions.
Without treatment, GERD can lead to severe health problems, such as Barrett’s esophagus. In this condition, abnormalities develop in the cells lining the food pipe. In some cases, this may lead to cancer.
Heartburn is the main sign of GERD. It is a painful feeling that can range from a burning feeling in the chest to feeling like food is stuck in the throat. It is also relatively common to experience nausea after eating.
Some less common symptoms of GERD include:
- hiccups
- burping
- wheezing or weak coughing
- a sore throat
- changes to the voice, including hoarseness
- food regurgitation
Lying down immediately after eating can worsen symptoms. People sometimes find their symptoms also get worse during the night. If this is the case, they may feel better if they sleep with their head raised and don’t eat for at least two hours before bed.
The symptoms of GERD are highly treatable.
People can purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat GERD. These include antacids, such as Gaviscon, which neutralize stomach acid.
People can also buy H2-receptor blockers, which might stop the stomach from making acid for up to 12 hours. OTC proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) have a similar effect.
Prescription medications might include stronger antacid, or acid-blocking, drugs. Although these are generally effective, they only reduce stomach acid levels. Some people may not get enough vitamin B12 if they take antacids, PPIs, or H2-receptor inhibitors on a regular basis because they break down food with this acid.
Baclofen is a drug that can help control symptoms by reducing the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. However, baclofen can cause adverse effects, including fatigue and confusion.
The ROOT CAUSE of Acid Reflux & How To STOP IT! | Dr. Mark Hyman
FAQ
Is corned beef acidic?
What kind of meat can I eat with acid reflux?
Can you eat brisket with acid reflux?
Is ham bad for acid reflux?
Is corned beef bad for You?
Corned beef can be high in saturated fat and sodium, which may contribute to health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease. However, it also provides protein and essential nutrients, so it can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Does eating a lot of fiber cause acid reflux?
Consuming dietary fiber excessively can cause reflux, especially if there is already a problem at that level installed or if the individual lies down soon after consumption. It is also possible that there is poor gastric digestion due to lack of enzymes or adequate acidity or delayed gastric emptying that collaborate with reflux.
Is corned beef a carcinogen?
It’s a good idea to limit the amount of processed meat you eat to just once in a while. That goes for corned beef and other processed meats like hot dogs or bacon. Summary The WHO classifies corned beef and other processed meats as potential carcinogens. Eating it regularly may increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Does grass-fed beef cause acid reflux?
If you suffer from acid reflux, you should know that even healthfully-raised, grass-fed beef contains a good amount of fat. And fatty foods, as you now know, cause that LES to become lax as they sit in your stomach, waiting to be digested. Just one 3-ounce serving of 85% lean ground beef contains 5 grams of saturated fat.