Q & A: Readers’ Questions & Comments
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I have been on your reflux diet for several months with excellent results. I’ve dropped over 22 pounds, feel energized, am sleeping better, have minimal reflux symptoms, AND I’m enjoying the recipes and scientific explanation for my disease(LPR). My “new favorite” recipe is the “Asian Pork Stir-Fry” made with chicken. This week I’m going to prepare your ‘Asian-Style Shrimp with Jasmine Rice’!
My question concerns the use of two foods not mentioned in your book: All Natural roasted carob powder by Chatfield’s and Naked’s coconut water. I have this very tasty carob mousse recipe (silken firm tofu, carob powder, coconut water, vanilla, honey), and am wondering if I can eat this on the reflux diet.
This book has really changed my life. Much gratitude to the team of folks who have worked so hard to put this info out.
Julie
We can’t answer this question completely but we can tell you that Naked’s Coconut Water has a pH of 5.0 and compared to chocolate, carob has significantly lower levels of theobromine, the stimulate that causes reflux problems. What’s interesting about coconut water is not all coconut waters are the same. If acids are not added as ingredients, we believe coconut water will be okay. If acids are added, stear clear. We tested VitaCoco’s Coconut Water Passion Fruit flavor at pH 3.4.
First, thank you for your work. I would like an answer with regards to my Vitamin C supplement. Is it okay to take or not?
Presumably, you are taking the supplement as a pill, and its contents will be intact until they reach the stomach. Thus, the supplement’s contents shouldn’t be a problem. Still, we are recommending you take the supplement with banana, milk, or a high pH yogurt to help protect for pH balancing.
I hope you continue to use this blog/website to measure the pH values of both raw and commercial foods and drinks, and list the results here. Are lean cuts of pork and lamb acceptable? You are positive about chicken, turkey and fish.
Lean cuts of pork and lamb? They are not okay on the Induction Reflux Diet, but they are okay during maintenance. Skinless poultry and fish should be your staple meats. They have lower fat content. Lamb and duck and other low-fat meats are acceptable for refluxers but not on the Induction Reflux Diet and not with rich fat-laden sauces. Portion control is also important. More than 8 ounces of meet is excessive. Some Americans think eating a pound of meat is a good thing–well it isn’t.
Question: Can buckwheat (kasha) be used on the Induction Reflux Diet? Thanks for the book and your work in this area. –Sol
We tested Buckwheat (kasha), and it’s pH is 6.0. This is great for the Induction Reflux Diet. We recommend making sure the product you’re buying doesn’t have any additives and wish you luck!
I am a vegetarian in the UK and eat Quorn products. Are they okay?
We haven’t tested Quorn products, but from looking at their nutrition label we found that a lot of Quorn products have high fat content (between 25-60%), which is probably not good for reflux.
I am on the Induction Reflux Diet and want to know if I can eat sauerkraut, beets (red, yellow, fresh), Matzah, and Jello?
First, the Induction Reflux Diet is the Induction Reflux Diet. We will update it in the future; however, there is no reason to look for occasional foods here or there, which may or may not be your favorite, because most such foods are not okay on the Induction Reflux Diet. Sauerkraut, Jello, and canned and bottle beets are acidic. Matzah and cooked beets are probably okay. Nevertheless, this is a bit of tough love, but the truth is a lot of patients who have committed to the Induction Reflux Diet without cheating have seen dramatic changes. So, in short, our advise is to religiously commit to the Induction Reflux Diet. The results are worth it.
Understand that things like sauerkraut, which is cabbage that is fermented by various lactic acid bacteria, are acidic even not canned. Pickled and canned beets are acidified by preservatives for shelf-life. For JELLO, the story is on the label. The basic ingredients are, “Sugar, Gelatin, Adipic Acid (for Tartness), Less than 2% of Artificial Flavor, Disodium Phosphate and Sodium Citrate (Control Acidity), Fumaric Acid (for Tartness).” Anyone with reflux needs to get used to this level of label scrutinizing. Start looking for acids. Here we have two culprits, and it was not a surprise that when we pH tested pre-packaged JELLOs the pH was 3.7 or less. For boxed, dry JELLO, the ingredients are the same so we do not expect a difference.
Love the book! Starting the 2 week detox today– I have the salmon dish on deck for tonight. Quick question: what is your take on low-acid Tropicana OJ? Any idea as to the pH level? Is it considered ok for the Induction Reflux Diet or should I wait a few weeks? Thanks for writing this book. It has already made a difference in the way I understand reflux.
We tested low-acid Tropicana orange juice, and it is pH 4.0. It may be less acidic than other brands on the market, but it is not okay for refluxers. Regular Tropicana orange juice is pH 3.8.
What about peanut butter? Full of protein, healthy non-animal fat? Almond butter?
Most nuts are high in fat and not acceptable on the reflux diet. Likewise, nut-based products like peanut butter and almond butter are too high in fat. Trader Joe’s brand of almond butter has 18 grams of fat per serving and 190 calories, 150 of which are fat calories. Peanut butter is a similar story. Neither product is appropriate for refluxers.
What about almond butter and almond milk? Okay for the induction and/or maintenance diet?
Nope. These are high fat … not for the reflux diet at all.
I know you have stated that almonds are very high in fat and you said that almond milk is also too high fat, but almond milk is only 2.5g per cup. is that really too much fat?
thanks!
So ALL high-fat foods are bad for refluxers? As you know, nuts, avocados and olive and canola oils are all “high” in fat, but the fat is mostly mono-unsaturated (healthy) fat, with very little saturated (unhealthy) fat. What is the scientific reason why ANY high fat food — healthy or unhealthy — is bad for reflux? Is it because the high fat content in general takes longer to digest, which requires the stomach to produce more acid? Thanks.
Yes, Although you can have those “healthy” fats in moderation after the induction period.
I thought I would buy some bottled aloe vera juice since I don’t own a plant, but buyer beware. I got home, drank some, and the fire began. I spun the bottle around to find out that it contains citric acid. I must get better about reading the labels before I make the purchase. I am now in search of an aloe plant.
Try Herbal Aloe Force. It does not contain citric acid, and it’s the only aloe juice that I can tolerate. It has helped me tremendously whereas the other brands only made me worse.
http://www.amazon.com/Herbal-Answers-Force-Immune-Support/dp/B000EIJM7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295832825&sr=8-1
Yes, “good reflux foods and beverages” are not always good if they are acidified. Avoid anything with “citric acid,” “ascorbic acid,” or that is “vitamin C enhanced.”
I am using one pure Aloe that tastes horrid but I’ve found that if I put a capful of it in water and add honey, that I can get it down.
I’m a professional singer with LPR and have just found your book which makes more sense than anything I have read so far. Thank you! I’m looking forward to sharing it with my ENT. I’m a little confused as to which onions you list as “green” in the food lists (Onion-white). Later on in the list it is shown as a “red” food if sauteed. Does this mean that I might be able to safely use white onions raw or cooked other ways? Also, what about scallions and shallots? Are these more idiosyncratic foods that I will have to figure out by trial and error?
We agree. Aloe vera drinks are being heralded as a way to stay healthy and young, but we’re finding they are packed full of citric and ascorbic acid. We tested Fremo’s Aloe Vera drink at pH 3.5 and haven’t found one drink that doesn’t have either acid on the label! This is another addition to our list of specialty “health” drinks that are unsuspectingly loaded with acids. Our advice: read the label carefully and avoid the acids. If you’re going to control your reflux and watch the food you eat, you are going to have to learn to carefully read labels. Unfortunately, food manufacturers don’t want you to know about their additives. Here’s a partial list of things to watch out: ascorbic acid, adipic acid, citric acid, Vitamin C enhanced, and 100% Vitamin C.
I heard Dr. Jamie Koufman on XM Doctor radio and immediately knew this was my problem. I am a 65 year old woman and have had silent acid reflux (LPR) for 2 years. I have been to an ENT and a GI. I’ve had a upper GI endoscopy which showed chronic gastritis and a small hiatus hernia. I was diagnosed with Gerd and given a prescription for nexium. It did nothing for me even when I was taking it twice a day. I have tried all of the PPI’s available with no results. The ENT told me there was nothing more he could do. Of course this really upset me as my Dad died at 63 from esophageal cancer.
I have been on the Induction Reflux diet for 10 days. I have been really strict and have lost 3 pounds already. I would not mind loosing maybe 5 more but I am small and in shape so that would be my limit. To date I have seen no change but I’m continuing with a positive attitude. I did go off the nexium and I’m wondering if I should have continued on it. Please advise. Thanks.
Generally, one should come off proton pump inhibitors (PIs) like Nexium slowly, that is, they should be tapered — because there is a rebound hypersecretion of acid with abrupt PPI discontinuance. That may be what happened to you. But now that you are off the medicine, as long as you are continuing to improve going forward you may be okay. About two-thirds of refluxers can manage on The Reflux Diet without medication, but that leaves many who need medical treatment period. In truth you should consult your doctor as we don’t really know your situation enough to make any blanket recommendation(s).
One cup of coffee is OK on the induction diet. However, what about decaf coffee and tea. Is it the caffeine or other substances that cause the problem?
In truth, caffeine is a problem for reflux and so is “the other substances” in many cases, including herbals. Red Zinger, for example, seems to cause reflux. For the Induction Reflux Diet, one cup of coffee (decaf or regular) or one cup of tea with caffeine (including the white, green, and black teas) PER DAY. During The Induction Reflux Diet, the only other more-than-one-cup-a-day tea that is okay during induction is chamomile. Even chamomile is a trigger for some people.
Greetings. I am thankful to have in my arsenal such a book that explains my disease in such detail (LPR) that is. I was wondering about the Aloe Vera. I recently bought some Aloe Vera drink that says it’s a “stomach formula” that supposedly balances your PH. But if it contains, citric acid, should I stay away from it? And do they make a juice with no citric acid? I am a professianal singer who’s career is on the line. I have been on the Induction Diet for about a month. It may be that I’ve done permanent damage to my vocal cords. Thank you for writing this book!
Title 21. The way canned and bottled foods and drinks are preserved in America is by acidification. The two most common substances used are citric acid and ascorbic acid (“Vitamin C”). Sometimes products will say “Vitamin C enhanced” to try to make you believe they are doing something good for your health. This is just another term for acidification in truth. If you have reflux and you want to be on a low acid diet, you have to read the labels and/or buy a pH meter. Most of the aloe vera drinks, beverages, and liquids are acidified; some are not. Generally speaking, “reflux laryngitis” or “acid laryngitis” does not produce permanent damage. The Reflux Induction Diet is always a good starting point. See pages 46-47 of the book.
Hi. My question is if I am on medication and have no signs of reflux how do I know what food may still be causing me problems. I have silent reflux, am on Nexium, and seem to be fine.
First of all, some people do get a great response from medication, so it is difficult to know what are trigger foods while on medication; however, we are still betting that you are not eating late and that you are avoiding fried foods, chocolate, carbonated beverages, and citrus. Finally, it may be a year or two, or even after you are off medication, before you know which are your specific trigger foods.
There is a lot of variation in terms of what’s problematic in different individuals. Just recently, I have encountered two patients for whom oatmeal was a trigger food for reflux and two additional patients for whom bananas didn’t work out. Since oatmeal and bananas are foods we generally recommend for reflux, this only serves to point out that their is tremendous individual variation for trigger foods and refluxers. Inevitably, you may have to take a more scientific approach, including trial and error, after your medicine has been discontinued. And by the way, most reflux medicines need to be tapered by a doctor, and not stopped “cold turkey.”
I know bread is O.K. on the Reflux Induction Diet, and I’m only eating whole grain bread, but how about crackers? Specifically Kashi TLC Original 7 Grain and Triscuit Thin Crisps original. I read both ingredients on the packaging and they look just like the breads. In fact, the Triscuits only ingredients are whole-grain soft white winter wheat, soybean oil and salt.
We’re taking a hard-line here, because we can’t measure every food, and we don’t know the exact ingredient ratio to each of the products you ask about. Our best guess is that both products are okay, but the Reflux Induction Diet is only 2 weeks. We recommend just following it as is.
I’m a professional singer with LPR and have just found your book which makes more sense than anything I have read so far. Thank you! I’m looking forward to sharing it with my ENT. I’m a little confused as to which onions you list as “green” in the food lists (Onion-white). Later on in the list it is shown as a “red” food if sauteed. Does this mean that I might be able to safely use white onions raw or cooked other ways? Also, what about scallions and shallots? Are these more idiosyncratic foods that I will have to figure out by trial and error?
Onions are one of the big trigger foods for people who have reflux, but they are not a trigger food for everyone. The medical term for this is “idiosyncratic.” To make matters worse, some people can eat cooked onions but not raw onions, some people can eat raw onions but not cooked onions, and for some people, different types of onions trigger reflux, e.g. red, white, or yellow onions, shallots, or green onions.
Onions that are sauteed in fat are certainly more likely to cause reflux. For most people with reflux, we do not recommend eating onions. It is possible, however, that you could be one of the people who tolerate onions just fine.
This cookbook is amazing! I feel like substantive diet information has always been a Holy Grail for refluxers. Until now. What a great resource!
My question centers around the Reflux Induction Diet and some holiday-themed foods. Specifically, I was wondering whether or not the following list is okay, and the reasons why or why not:
-cauliflower
-artichoke
-lentil
-(dried) apricot
-(dried) fig
-(dried) dates
-almonds
-walnuts
-pecans
Thank you so much for your guidance and continued help!
My question is about adding flax seed (ground) to my foods for added fiber. Is that okay? Thank you, Lynn
Yes, that is okay.
I just finished your book. I see no mention of the use of cinnamon. Is cinnamon pH OK for us with reflux?
In moderation cinnamon is okay. I don’t think that I’d push it as a daily food item. Dr. K
I also make a dressing for salads with canola oil, dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar. Is it too acidic? It is the only dressing I use on my daily salads.
As long as you are not on the Induction Reflux Diet and as long as you use small amounts … and toss the salad so that there is no excess dressing n the bottom of the bowl, it is probably acceptable (even though it is an acidic salad dressing). In this case, it is the amount that matters most … less than a tablespoon is probably okay.
Thank you so much for all your wonderful insight and information. I have your book and am in day six of the induction diet. I think I have followed everything. My stomach ache of two months has disappeared. A symptom I am noticing is the acid taste in my mouth. It is very distinct. Is that common?
Acid taste in the mouth may be due to reflux or it may be due to abnormalities in the smell and taste systems. If it is worse in the morning after you awake or after meals, it may more likely be reflux. It is a relatively uncommon symptom. Please let us know what happens with this symptom in your case over time.
Wonderful, wonderful cookbook. Before I ran into it, I thought I was condemned to a lifetime of rabbit food, which isn’t at all good for a gourmet.
My question is, what about wheatgrass? I’ve read enthusiastic wheatgrass drinkers claim on the internet that it helps reflux (among other things), and it’s also been recommended to me, but then I’m also aware that the stuff contains abscisic acid.
I’m just a bit skeptical, despite its (or maybe even because of its) being presented as a cure-all.
We have not tested wheatgrass drink. If there are no acids added, we suspect it will be fine for most people; however, if there are acids added, stay away.
I just finished reading through your book and have a few questions: (1) I notice that you say that ginger “in moderation” is a great food for people with reflux. Why the qualifier? And what amount would you say is “moderate”? I usually drink a cup of hot water with several slices of ginger in it before meals. (2) What is your opinion Smart Balance or other butter substitutes? (3) Several of the recipes call for chicken stock or vegetable stock. Are canned/boxed stocks acceptable, or do they need to be homemade? Thanks again!
LPR has ruined my life. I used to sing before this. Now I can barely speak. I avoid all the typical “trigger foods” but still nothing. I wonder, is it ok to eat bread, noodles/pasta (without sauce) chicken and rice? That’s basically all I eat. I’m from Chile (South America) and doctors here don’t seem to know anything about LPR. I’m scared. I really don’t know what to do…
Your diet is fine, but the problem may be bigger. I asume that you are seeing ENT doctors? LPR can ruin a voice, but many people who have voice problems also have vocal fold bowing from atrophy, aging, or even paresis (partial paralysis). Voice disorders often have more than one cause. Here’s a differentiating couple of points. Voice worse in the morning, usually due to reflux. Voice worse after meals, usually due to reflux. If however, the voice gets worse at the end of the day when you are talking in a noisy environment or just with prolonged voice use, then the problem is probably not just reflux. Surely you can find a physician who understands LPR. Maybe you should bring your doctor a copy of Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure. Have her or him read the “Science” chapter first!
I have a very sore throat from my reflux, and am beginning to follow the Reflux Induction Diet. Are there any throat lozenges that are acceptable on the Reflux Induction Diet? Is Organic Throat Coat Tea (caffeine free) an option? Any suggestions for managing the sore throat and still following the Reflux Induction Diet?
“Very sore throat” is not a typical symptom of acid reflux alone. If the sore throat is worse in the morning and after meals and is associated with other symptoms such as hoarseness, throat-clearing, cough, globus (lump-in-the-throat feeling), then reflux may indeed be its cause. Still, in addition to the Induction Reflux Diet you should probably see an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat) doctor. If throat pain is your primary symptom by itself, and especially if speaking makes your throat hurt — a symptom called “odynophonia,” a term coined by Dr. Koufman 30 years ago — then there may be something more going on, and you MUST see a doctor. (Odynophonia is often associated with something called “neurogenic pain,” “sick nerve syndrome.”) To directly answer your questions. If it is just reflux, it should get better in a few weeks assuming that you are not eating late at night and still having have nighttime reflux. Your question, as you can see, is not easily answered, so we conclude you should see a doctor. Finally, for reasons that are not clear, “Throat Coat Tea” is BAD for reflux in many people and we recommend that you avoid it. Lozenges aren’t the answer either … fixing the underlying cause is. The best we can recommend is drinking warm Chamomile tea.
Are IBS and Silent Reflux related? I seem to have both!
Good question. I don’t know the answer for sure. Both conditions are common, so surely some people should have both. But that said, there may be a relationship with the vagus nerves being the glue that binds most of the aerodigestive tract together. I know, for example, that some patients with reflux-related cough note that the cough (particularly after meals) seems to stop after they pass gas. We also know that some medications for reflux, such as domperidone, also improve IBS. Dr. Koufman
What is the acidity of soy sauce? Is it an acceptable condiment to cook with? Thanks!
We only measured Lee Kum Kee soy sauce, which is provided in little packets with sushi in our local supermarket. It’s pH was 4.3, which is fine as an ingredient. It is also fine on sushi. Remember only a little is used and the fish and the rice are not acidic at all. Bottom line, soy sauce is okay.
Thanks to my ENT doctor for urging me to get this book! I am 59 and believe I have had reflux my whole life, but I never knew it. I started the Induction Reflux Diet yesterday and have a question concerning beans. Can I use canned beans? After your impassioned presentation that most all canned goods sold in the US are acidic, I’m not sure.
We didnt test a lot of canned beans, but the canned red and navy beans we tested were okay, that is, above pH5.
Are garlic and onion powder okay to use when preparing my dishes during the Induction Reflux Diet … in the 1st couple of weeks?
We don’t want to expand the induction diet to include things we aren’t sure about. Remember, our Induction Reflux Diet evolved over a period of three years. We used to include a few red apples, for example, but some of our patients had problems with them. So we took them out. In truth those ingredients in small quantities probably don’t cause reflux, but by the book … the answer is NO.
Are the following spices acceptable? Cumin, paprika, and turmeric. Also, have you tested the pH of Kefir?
The spices are fine. We have not tested Kefir, so we do not know.
Two questions: (1) Can one take digestive enzymes while being treated for LPR (taking Prilosec and on Induction Diet)? (2) Can constipation exacerbate reflux?
(1) PubMed is the definitive on-line search for all peer-reviewed medical/scientific articles had it had nada, zilch, bubkis on digestive enzymes for reflux. In addition, we could find no substantive data on the Internet. There is hardly any anecdotal info. While enzymes might be an excellent new adjunctive reflux treatment some day, at this point all there is not much evidence to support their use. Personally, I would stay away from them. (2) Constipation and reflux are rarely related, but they can be. Some medications for reflux can cause constipation. We do not, however, think that constipation (“a big GI back-up”) can cause reflux. Dr. J. Koufman
I’ve read that lemon is acidic but becomes alkaline in the body. I have reflux and am drinking lemon water on an empty stomach in the morning. It feels very good and no reflux effects are present as far as I can tell. Am I just increasing my reflux risk? Thanks.
Stay away from lemon if you have reflux. We do not know why you feel better, but in our experience with our patients lemon of all kinds exacerbates reflux.
Do you maintain a list of “safe” foods which you update as you continue testing? If so, can you direct me to this list? Thanks for all your effort.
New questions about many foods come in daily, and we answer questions the best we can as we go. Look through this blog, many common questiones are answered here.
Greetings from Finland and thank you for a great book. I have high hopes in the diet! You don’t mention anything about a approximate timespan for the cure in the book. I got an LPR diagnosis 2 weeks ago, but I have been suffering of classical LPR symptoms for approximately 2 years. I have been on the Reflux Induction Diet for 1 week and don’t feel any change yet. I guess it might take a longer time in my case to recognize an improvement due to the diet than say for a person who have had the same symptoms for a shorter time? Can it takes week/months before I notice any changes?
I just started the induction diet two days ago and am currently on 20 mg. of Prilosec a day. Is there a specific dangerous ingredient I should look out for in canned beans? (I’m using Eden organic unsalted red, black and aduki beans.) Also, is there a point at which I could reintroduce raw, unsalted almond butter into my diet? Thank you!
There is no problem with any of those beans or items. Prilosec won’t react or anything unusual.
I was diagnosed with lpr. I also have celiac disease so I have to avoid gluten.
Is quinoa acceptable for the induction reflux diet?
We generally try not to alter the Reflux Induction Diet; however, in your case we think that quinoa is fine.
I just bought your book and am confused about avocados. On page 63 it is a red food due to high fat, but on pg 188 it is a green food. It would be helpful if you could clarify since I have been eating 1-2 avocados per week. Thank you.
Well, you should be confused about avocados, because (as you figured out) we were when we wrote the book. The page 63 red avocado and the page 188 green avocado is the only actual mistake we’ve found so far in our book. The “mistake” stems from our uncertainty about the reflux effects of the avocado. Here’s the issue. The avocado is a high-fat food (albeit relatively healthy fat), and we generally steer away from high-fat foods. However, in our clinical experience, patients have not identified avocado as a trigger food for reflux. So, let’s settle this issue here and now: Avocado is probably okay on the Maintenance Reflux Diet in moderation, that is, 1-2 per week. Funny how things work out sometimes, isn’t it?
Though I am replying to a year old post…I just posted my own first
blog today. Regarding the 2 mistakes,( we all make mistakes)…I found a 3rd.
I’m not complaining at all. I just want share this so others don’t have to go
backwards and repeat “Induction Reflux Diet” as I am going to do starting now.
I have finished the induction diet, but still am symptomatic. I followed
it to a T, and was told on page 45 “(you can still try every recipe in this
book, as they are all acceptably low on acid and fat.)” All the recipes
I tried were delicious. BUT…reading the answer of the Acid Reflux Diet
Cookbook the answer was NO on recipes while on the Induction Diet.
I have loved this book and am thrilled
to have such wonderful information at my fingertips!
Many, Many Thanks to all of your hard work!
Why does the chart in your book (which I just read) differ so much from other pH charts on the web? They all seem to be radically different?
One of the biggest problems with getting information, particularly medical and scientific information, from the web is that sources are often unidentified and/or unreliable and the methodology of data collection unspecified. The answer to your question is that our pH measurements are accurate! To the extent that they vary from those posted by others on the web, there are two explanations. First, many of the previously web-posted measurements are inaccurate, just wrong, period. (That’s one of the reasons that we did our own pH measurements with reliable equipment.) Second, the pH of many foods and beverages vary by age, ripeness, and (most of all) by brand. For example, many brands of store-bought aloe vera have acid added, a few do not. In conclusion, trust that our measurements are accurate.
I know that beans and lentils are listed as best foods in the induction diet, but are split peas therefore okay for the Induction Reflux Diet?
All of the green veggies are okay, except for peppers (green, jalapeno, etc.)
Are the cookbook recipes allowed during the Induction Reflux Diet? On page 45 you say that they are. Or is the two-week Induction Reflux Diet strictly limited to those foods listed on pages 46 and 47?
We intend for the Induction Reflux Diet to allow/include the 75 recipes in the book, because they are all pH balanced and they employ few trigger foods. However, the ingredients can not be pulled out of those recipes and then used in other recipes that you devise. And honestly, for our patients with severe reflux disease, particularly those who are failing medical treatment, we usually recommend just the foods on the list (pp46-7) for the first two weeks.
Hi, a couple of questions: (1) For whole wheat bread, how strict do we have to be about it – are there any ingredients on the package we should know to avoid? (2) is it necessary to avoid white bread? (3) Is it okay to chew gum? Thanks for your help. Very excited about trying some of the recipes.
Bread is good for reflux, there is hardly any bad bread. As for gum chewing? It is actually a good thing to do, particularly for people who have symptoms after meals; see scientific article on the effects of gum chewing on reflux.
I had heard that gum chewing was good, but are there certain flavors that are better than others? I have read that “mint” is not good for refluxers.
That’s right, mint is a big reflux trigger, although chewing gum can be helpful for people who reflux.
Another question, whenever i get sick, I like to drink gatorade to replenish electrolytes, etc. I know now from your book that that is a no-no. My doctor suggested Pedialyte, but I cannot find any information about its pH level. Do you have any thoughts?
Yes. Unflavored Pedialyte is okay.
Great question Jared! I can only have Gatorade at the beach, i don’t get hydration from water and just end up bloated during the day and def after as i try to replenish. Now i know that Pedialyte helps, WOW. Thanks Dr. and thanks Jared.
Is Kale ok on the Induction Reflux Diet?
Yes. Kale is okay.
I just wanted to let you know, that I have been following the induction diet strictly for 9 days now, and most of the symptoms I have been complaining about are either totally gone, or almost gone. With the exception of being slightly hoarse in the mornings (substantially less so than I was a week ago), I honestly almost feel 100%. My throat no longer burns, I no longer feel like I have bubbles coming up my chest, my post nasal drip and throat clearing has decreased dramatically. I hope my recovery continues, but I really think I have your diet to thank as I am not on any reflux medication right now. I hope others get the same relief that I am experiencing!
I have also made my way through a number of your recipes, and they are delicious, and have made this dieting experience more bearable!
I’m starting the Induction Diet. I have been drinking Ginger Tea from tea bags sold by Traditional Medicianls. May I continue?
Yes.
I’ve read that honey when cooked becomes acidic. Should we only eat raw honey during the induction diet? Also, what about honey that is cooked as an ingredient in whole-spelt bread?
Thanks!
All forms of honey are good for people with reflux.
Are Rooibos and
Honeybush herbal teas ok?
Yes, rooibos and honeybush are both good for tea-drinkers with reflux.
Hi! I’m really getting a lot of relief from this cookbook, but wonder if there is a more comprehensive food list somewhere?
At the moment, no. We are releasing a larger list but testing foods as needed.
I love the cookbook and agree with the comment that “it’s talking right to me!” Thank you. Now for the question. I have silent (throat) reflux. I love almonds: raw and toasted. Are they high/low acidity? (So much conflicting info on the internet …). I’ve also been putting a few drops of almond extract in hot water as a tea/coffee substitute. It tastes great but … I want to know if it’s OK. Thanks for any info.
For almonds, it isn’t a question of acidity but of fat. Almonds are a fatty nut and cannot be eaten on The Reflux Diet. Almond extract in moderation should be fine.
How about using Cinnamon to add flavor to foods?
Cinnamon is fine …. usually. It is, however a trigger food for some people.