Q & A: Readers’ Questions & Comments
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Hello – I’m a competitive cyclist recently diagnosed with LPR and GERD. Upon my ENT’s advice I’ve purchased your cookbook and am learning a lot; many unanswered questions are now answered — THANK YOU!
Cyclists may ride a bicycle for 3-5 hours at a time and because we’re in constant movement resort to sports drinks such as Cytomax, nutrition bars typically containing nuts and gels such as Power Gel. Now that I’m reading labels it’s becoming clear that many of these products contain citric acid and other preservatives, and reading that exercising without full digestion is contrary – yet not realistic in my sport. With that, several specific questions:
1. Have you performed any research around sports drinks and nutrition in the context of using them in sport (as opposed to the average consumer who may think Gatorade is “healthier” to drink than soda”)? I switched my sports drink from Cytomax to Hammer Heed, as they advertise there is no citric acid to “burn your throat or stomach” but I still have no idea as to the PH of the drink.
2. Can there be a link between ingesting drinks/foods/gels while under exercise and reflux in that the digestive system? And if so, any recommendations? (I would think constant consumption in small bits would be better than eating a whole bar at a time?).
3. With regards to sports gel, I switched from Power Gel to a homemade mix containing 75% brown rice syrup with 25% fructose in the form of agave nectar, with a bit of salt for electrolytes. Can you estimate the PH of such a mix?
Thank you!
Hello, I was wondering,is dried fruit okay for refluxers such as raisins, dried crannberries, cherries, and papaya?
Hi! We are getting ready to try the Induction Diet and see that sushi is listed. Does this mean that both white rice and soy sauce are okay in moderation during the two week period? Or shall we stick to sashimi?
Thank you!
I have been dealing with LPR for over 10 years. I am hoarse about 3 weeks out of a month. I will be having fundoplication surgery in Nov. 2011. Is it ok to eat Yoplait light flavored yogurt?
My 80 year old dad is following your diet in order to alleviate his breathing issues. Can he put a small amount of diet mayonnaise on a chicken sandwich so that it isn’t quite so dry? (He has your book with him but cannot find the answer.) If not, what can you suggest to dab on the bread?
My problems are PVVN, GERD and LPR. After working with your old associates at WFUBMC I am 50% improved. But, Dr. Wright nor Mr. Blalock can tell me why red grape juice, which contains citric acid and added Vitamin C, helps the inflamation in my throat. Should I keep drinking it? I tell you, it makes all the difference in my clarity and control! Thank you for your work which has given me hope.
I would like to know if whey protein isolate (or a substitute like soy protein), can be taken in a shake after weightlifting on the maintenance diet? It could be mixed with oats, banana, and soy milk.
I would also like to know what milk substitutes are acceptable for those who avoid dairy – is Soy milk the only option?
Thank you so much!
I don’t always have time to make my own chicken broth and sometimes resort to using the canned ones. Are there any preservatives that I should be aware of that might alter the Ph level? I typically use Swanson’s Chicken broth.
Thank you so very much for all your hard work. I have been on the Reflux Induction diet for nearly 2 weeks and I have had very good results. I have your book, Dropping Acid…, but have not used any of the recipes, as of yet. I would, respectfully, request that another cookbook be made (Dropping Acid…#2??) utilizing easy, everyday recipes for busy people. A cookbook that would have more traditional recipes that the entire family would eat. Meals that could be made after a long day at work, school, etc., with classical versions of desserts such as cakes, pies, and cookies. I know, I am asking a lot. But, oh, I would certainly be the first to purchase this cookbook. Fancy meals are great, but as a wife and mother, I need more traditional foods to serve my family and still be low acid. Is one in the works? Thank you, again, for what you have done for me.
are whey protein isolate or glutamine powder (glutamine is sometimes used for digestive issues as I understand it) ok on the maintenance diet?
I’ve just been diagnosed with GERD and got your book from Amazon this week. Love it!!. Does the temperature of beverages/foods have any bearing on GERD? Some reflux websites state that eating/drinking anything cold or iced should be avoided because the stomach is temperature sensitive – when the temp of the food/drink is lower than body temperature everything will just sit in the stomach until it all gets warmed up to body temp., and the stomach can start working again…and that hot food/beverages speed up digestion. Any truth in any of this?
Question: Would a Zantac 75 twice a day have a favorable affect when reducing acid or trying for a balanced ph.?
Your recipes are great. I have many questions but will start with two. 1) is it a good idea to gargle with baking soda solution, and if so what are the proportions? 2) the induction diet appears to have virtually no protein. Seems to me this is important. What should one do about protein? Thank you
I just bought your book and I really want to start the two week Induction Diet, but I’m a little confused. During the two week Induction Diet can you really eat any recipe that’s in the book? I ask because some of them seem to have things in them that aren’t on the “Best Foods” list? Thanks for you help
I have had good results with the Induction phase of this diet, most noteably in my throat symptoms. The cough is GONE, and throat-clearing greatly reduced. How many grams of fat per day do you suggest for your maintenance diet?
Hi. Your book is so enlightening. It is the answer to years of Dr. visits and mysterious symptoms.
My question: does Valium make reflux worse? I take 10 mg./day. Would Xanax be a better choice for my anxiety? I’m concerned that the Valium might be relaxing the muscles and allowing for more reflux.
Many thanks,
RW
Hi, in the UK there is a dairy free product called Kara Coconut Milk. I have been using it with water to make porridge in the morning. It’s ingredients are listed as : Filtered water, Coconut Milk 8.4%, Fruit extract concentrate, calcium phosphate, sucrose ester, sea salt and natural carotene. Per 100ml of milk there is 2.0g of medium chain fatty acids (which I know are important). However these are listed as Caprylic Acid(0.2g), Capric Acid(0.1g) and Lauric Acid(0.9g)!
My question is, do you think that this would be ok for the maintenance reflux diet, or is it a no go area?
Hi Dr. Kaufman, I just finished your wonderful book and am starting the plan this week. Thank you for writing the book and doing this ongoing Q&A which is super helpful. I have two questions:
My ent found unilateral paresis (70% strength and bad relaxation) in addition to pain after a few minutes of vocalizing, so I believe there is some nerve damage either caused by or in addition to my reflux. Have you found paresis affected nerves heal with the reflux diet or is this particular type of nerve related damage always permanent?
Second, do you find that the lower esophageal sphincter (or hiatal hernia) tightens up after the healing from the diet or will a loose LES always be loose?
I am confused with use of ginger. Can marinated, (pickled) ginger from a Japanese restaurant be eaten during induction or after?
When making your own Chicken Broth, is it ok to add a whole onion/garlic clove to enhance the flavor of the broth but take them out before adding veg/chicken?
Thanks so much for your excellent book which I bought for my husband, a long-time refluxer.
We’re vegans, and while sticking to the induction phase is no problem (it’s pretty easy to build a healthy diet around brown rice, bread, beans, tofu, and veggies for a couple of weeks), we’ll want to expand food choices as he moves into maintenance. I’m also a dietitian and would like to use the info in your book to help vegan clients who have reflux. I know you don’t currently have this information available, but it would be great to eventually have pH levels of foods that are common in vegetarian diets—tempeh, miso, veggie meats, veggie cheeses like Daiya brand, soy yogurt, coconut and almond milk, seitan (gluten) products, nutritional yeast. I know you can’t test every brand, but even a few choices would be helpful. If you ever decide to expand testing into these more “alternative” foods, I’d be happy to help identify the most common choices.
Thanks again for both your book and this blog. Great resources.
Hi,
Can I have fat free or very lowfat cheese on the induction diet? I’d gladly forgo the fat from the allowed olive oil or vinagrette for lowfat cheese. What about soy chips (made only of soy protein and salt) and edamame? Fresh apricots?
I’m a pediatrician with years of poorly treated severe LPR and GERD. I myself missed the boat, even with chronic nocturnal cough, postnasal drip, hoarseness. (My dentist actually made the call.) Lifestyle changes have been hard to make make with my schedule and 2 young children, but even with a decent diet and twice daily PPI’s I’m not seeing any relief. I’m just about to start your diet.
Thank you,
Lisa
addendum: soy chips with soy flour, rice flour, sunflower oil and salt…as much fiber and lower fat than whole grain crackers. ok for induction?
Thank you so much for your wonderful book. The points you make are so encouraging and helpful. I look foward to your expanded food list. I hope there is another book in the works – the more information we lpr sufferers can get the better. Thanks again.
Is valerian root herbal tea okay. And what nuts are ok. Is there any. I read above almonds are ok. What about pine nuts or walnuts
Can I have very lowfat or fat free cheese on the induction diet? What about soy chips (soy, rice flour, salt, oil-lowfat and high fiber)
Thanks,
Lisa
I noticed in an earlier comment that you said that most breads are ok, but I notice many breads have preservatices in them. Are they still ok because they are balanced out by something else? Is it the same for whole grain cereals and instant oatmeal packets?
Are soy products OK? (tofu, soy milk, tempeh, edamame) How about liquid fish oil supplements (can’t take gel pills) or glucosamine/chondroitin supplements? Hibiscus tea (supposed to be good for high blood pressure)? Can you comment about LPR and RNY gastric bypass (I must take daily vitamins, calcium supplements, iron supplements, B12)? I have both – any special considerations there for the induction reflex diet?
I’ve been on 30mg of Prevacid for 4years with great success. I’ve had laryngitis for 25 years, along with bad sinus issues and asthma. I just got a bone density test and I have Osteopena. I want to get off of Prevacid. The problem is I brought your book to my Gastroenterologist and she laughed and said that a reflux diet wouldn’t work. My question, how can I taper off of Prevacid if she doesn’t believe that I should get off of it? Is there anything besides Aloe Vera that you recommend? Also, what about taking DGL , probiotics or Mastic Gum? I need help since I’ll be doing this without my doctor’s advice.
Can I eat banana bread while on the induction phase?
Thanks for your great book!
I like to cook fresh rhubarb with some sugar and pour if over low fat frozen vanilla yogurt. Is rhubarb a “safe” food?
Hi,
My teenage boy has LPR. He took Prevacid 30 mg twice a day for 6 weeks and followed your Induction Reflux Diet for 2 weeks. He is now able to swallow with very little difficulty. Should he reduce the Prevacid to one a day?
Thank you so much for your guidance.
Hello, Thank you for your info about the PH of foods it really has helped me understand why certain foods that I thought would be harmless were giving me trouble. In searching the internet for a PH list of all foods, I came across several that gave the PH of foods based on the acid or alkaline ash the food left in your body, so foods that may be on the acid list for their actual PH are on the Alkaline list because they leave an alkaline ash.Is there any evidence of this? They claim Lemons are acidic but leave an alkaline ash for example. Do you know anything about these claims?
I plan on buying your book. I wanted to check if your book is useful only for people with LPR or will it work for people with GERD and without LPR?
are dates okay to eat?
Is it OK to modify the recipes, or will doing so cause them to be more acidic? I am a picky eater and cannot abide mushrooms in any form. It seems most of the “good” foods are ones I won’t eat, like oatmeal. I find the recipe portion of the book disappointing, as I dislike cooking and have always used easy recipes, with shortcuts like canned vegetables, packaged soups, etc. I think about food as little as possible, and yet have to feed two young adult children and my husband, all similarly picky eaters. Is there a reflux diet for non-gourmets?
Doctor
I found something called the IPEV food table which assesses the dietary effects on acid-base balance. Many of the foods in this table which show an acid effect (like seafood) are shown to be non-acidic in the Induction Diet; also many foods on this table which are considered Base (like most fruit including oranges) are considered acid forming on the Induction Diet.
You can see it at :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/69950209/IPEV-Food-Table
Thanks
David Raymond
I read your book and felt it was my story. I was diagnosed with silent reflux 3 years ago after going thru every professional that gave what they thought was the cause of my coughing, sore throat, etc. I have made an appointment to see a specialist ENT. What specific information or questions should I ask & tell them?
For the induction diet, I note that mints are not permitted. I currently take 2 peppermint Tums Ultra a day as a calcium supplement. Is it OK to continue this during the induction diet? Is there enough mint in this to matter?
2 questions – is low fat cheese ok on the diet?
2) has any association between dysmotility of the esophagus and reflux?