Although Hiatal hernia is the most prevalent cause of acid reflux, one’s diet has a significant impact on the incidence of symptoms. A high-fat, high-sugar, low-fiber diet causes heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms. Overeating also causes sluggish digestion, which causes excess acid production.
The sort of bread you eat may make a big difference in whether your acid reflux symptoms improve or worsen. The ingredients for white bread are flour, sugar, butter, and milk. These components should be avoided since they take longer to digest and cause excessive acid production. Whole wheat, brown rice, whole barley, oats, and other fiber-rich components are used in healthy bread alternatives to avoid acid reflux.
This article will go through the ingredients in various varieties of bread and how they affect acid reflux symptoms.
Contents
What is acid reflux and its effects on your body?
The discharge of stomach acid into the oesophagus is known as acid reflux. It happens when the muscles (sphincters) meant to keep stomach acid in the stomach become weaker or stop performing correctly. This permits stomach acid to flow backwards into the oesophagus, known as reflux. While this may just last a few minutes, it should not be taken lightly if it occurs often.
Acid reflux may affect individuals of all ages, although it is more frequent among middle-aged persons. Acid reflux symptoms include the following:
- Heartburn is characterized by a burning feeling in the chest. This frequently occurs after eating and is worse at night in certain circumstances.
- Swallowing Difficulties
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Food or liquid regurgitation from your stomach into your mouth. This is the accumulation of sour or bitter-tasting acid in your throat or tongue.
- Hiccups that don’t go away
- Dysphagia is the feeling of having food stuck in your throat.
- Breathing issues such as persistent cough or asthma
If you have acid reflux more than twice a week, you could have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This occurs because a continual backflow of acid occurs when the sphincter muscles function improperly. This will then irritate the lining of your esophagus, perhaps leading to inflammation and tissue damage.
What triggers acid reflux?
Acid reflux may be caused by a multitude of factors. Physical reasons, such as pregnancy and smoking, may be issues. The most typical triggers, however, are the foods and drinks you eat. A poor lifestyle combined with a bad diet is more likely to cause acid reflux. Some instances are as follows:
- Eating a large dinner and then resting down
- Consuming large meals late at night
- Certain foods, such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, spicy, fatty, or fried meals, should be avoided.
- Beverages that are alcoholic, caffeinated, or carbonated
- Obesity or being overweight
- Taking drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, or muscle relaxants
Acid Reflux And Bread
Does White Bread Cause Acid Reflux?
Because white bread includes refined wheat, sugar, egg, and salt, it is a high-carb food that may cause gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and diarrhea in those who are gluten intolerant. Eating carbs slows digestion, generating increased stomach acid production and raising the risk of acid reflux into the esophagus.
White bread also has very little fiber, which promotes digestion and keeps you fuller for longer. Despite the fact that white bread and whole wheat bread have the same pH values, white bread is high in salt and sugar, which may cause acid reflux.
Do Whole Wheat Bread and Whole Grain Bread Help Prevent Acid Reflux?
Whole wheat bread and whole-grain bread are healthier than white bread in every way and are better options for those who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease. Whole wheat bread is made using flour that contains the bran and germ of the wheat kernel. Grain bread contains critical elements such as fiber, iron, potassium, magnesium, folate, and B vitamins.
Whole wheat bread includes more fiber than white bread, which promotes digestion and reduces constipation. However, some makers of whole wheat bread add sugar and salt to increase taste, so examine the nutritional values, especially the sodium and sugar levels.
How Acidic or Alkaline is Bread?
The majority of breads have a pH that falls around between 5.00 and 6.53. Even while this isn’t a very low number, the majority of bread has acid-forming properties, which means they stimulate the creation of stomach acid and cause symptoms of heartburn.
Yeast is able to operate because it generates carbon dioxide gas, which causes the dough to rise or more than double in size. The pH drops as a result of the presence of this carbon dioxide gas, making the meal more acidic. After being proofed, bread often has an acidic flavor.
If you want to make bread with less acidity, you may reduce the number of ingredients you use and exclude the yeast. Baking soda is regarded alkaline despite the fact that it has a pH of 8.3 and is thought to be alkaline. However, when it combines with acidic components, it produces carbon dioxide gas, which lowers its pH. The majority of healthier options completely exclude yeast and baking powder from the recipe.
It is important to remember that yeast and baking powder are the ingredients that make bread more tender. They work air gas particles into the dough, which results in bubbles that contribute to the dough’s soft texture. If you don’t use yeast and baking soda, your bread will turn up crusty, difficult to chew, and chalky.
Best Bread for Acid Reflux: Top Three Picks
If you want to continue eating your favorite breaded meals, such as garlic bread, turkey sandwiches, and others, you will need to locate an alternative that does not trigger acid reflux in the stomach. The good thing is that you may choose from a few selections that are of high quality and are really rather tasty.
You’ll note that every kind of this bread is made with entire grains. Why? Because people who have acid reflux benefit from the high fiber, vitamin, and protein content of the food.
1. 100% Whole Grain Bread
If you are only going to add one kind of bread to your repertoire, make sure it is bread made with 100 percent whole grains. Whole grains, fiber, and protein may all be found in plenty in this kind of bread. They collaborate to reduce the rate of digestion, which in turn results in less acid being produced. Good riddance, acid reflux!
Check the list of ingredients to ensure that the bread you are purchasing is indeed made with 100% whole grains. In order to be considered authentic whole grain bread, the first component must be whole millet flour, cornflour, or brown rice flour.
Do you want an alternative for bread that is made entirely of whole grains that is both healthy and easier to digest? Choose the one that involves sprouting, and then never look back.
2. 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Bread made from whole wheat is yet another fantastic option for those who suffer from acid reflux. This is a nutritious option for a number of reasons, including its high fiber content and the presence of important elements including vitamin B and iron.
However, you should make sure that the label is correct. On the packaging of their products, some manufacturers may say that “100% whole wheat” is used, even when the product really contains refined flour. Steer clear of this “fake” loaf of whole wheat bread!
3. Multigrain Bread
If you want a taste that is more earthy, then you will really adore the flavor of multigrain bread. The flavor of the multigrain product you buy will determine how it tastes, so make sure you try a few varieties before committing to one.
Barley, oats, and flaxseeds are typical examples of the types of grains that may be included in multigrain bread. No matter whatever combination you choose with, you can be confident that the end result will be a high-protein, slow-digesting bread that helps alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux.
Bread to Avoid for Acid Reflux
Stay away from any form of bread that was made with refined grain, including the ever-popular white bread. Acid reflux sufferers should steer clear of this option because of the food’s taste (and, in most cases, its cheap price tag), but the condition may be rather enjoyable.
The amount of fiber and nutrients in bread prepared with refined wheat is rather low. On top of that, they often include large quantities of salt, carbohydrates, fats, and other processed components, all of which are components that are not beneficial for someone who has difficulties with acid reflux and should be avoided.
- Stay away from cigarettes and excessive amounts of alcohol. Drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes both have the potential to damage the lower oesophageal sphincter.
- Consume a number of smaller amounts at several times throughout the day. Consuming an excessive amount of food in a single sitting may cause your stomach to create a large amount of acid, which can lead to symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn.
- It is best to avoid eating large meals just before going to bed so that your stomach has time to relax and process the food you ate. In most cases, acid reflux is brought on by falling asleep too soon after eating.
- Make adjustments to your diet and stay away from the kinds of foods that are known to bring on acid reflux. Consume a variety of different foods instead that are rich in fiber.
- If you are either overweight or obese, you should try to lose some weight.
Tips on what you can do to reduce the effects of acid reflux
Altering your food is a good place to begin if you want to get control of your acid reflux and get it under control. You need to be aware of the kinds of foods that are good for you to consume and those that you should steer clear of. Although there are just a few varieties, there are breads that may be beneficial for those who suffer from acid reflux and heartburn. Including some kind of physical activity in your daily routine will also prove to be quite beneficial. Altering your way of life will be far more beneficial (and less expensive) throughout the course of your treatment than taking medicine.
Some helpful hints to prevent acid reflux:
If you are either overweight or obese, you should try to lose some weight.
Final Words
When you eat a slice of bread and then immediately thereafter you get acid reflux, it may be a real pain in the neck. Changing the loaf of bread you normally consume to one that has whole grains, whole wheat, or several grains is a simple way to alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux. Rye and sourdough are also acceptable alternatives to consider as well.