What foods to avoid with hiatal hernia

A hiatal hernia is observed when a part of stomach muscle pops out in the chest region through a weakened diaphragm muscle. Due to this disease, the patient experiences reflux of stomach acids into the esophagus. This gives a burning sensation in the chest and throat. Foods which lead to gastric upset can aggravate the symptoms of a hiatal hernia. Therefore, the patients need to keep track of their diet so that the problem remains at bay.

Foods to be avoided in a Hiatal Hernia:

1. Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, grapes must be avoided as they can cause heartburn problems due to sour taste. 2. Spicy and fried food preparations 3. Vegetables like Onion and garlic, tomatoes, chilli must be avoided. Food items prepared using these ingredients must be avoided to get rid of acidity issues. 4. Using too much of oil and butter in food preparation should be avoided. 5. Large quantities of caffeine must be avoided and the intake of tea/coffee must be reduced. 6. Carbonated drinks, chocolates, and peppermint can also aggravate the symptoms.

7. High-fat dairy products and milk must be avoided.

Food that is good for Hiatal Hernia patients:

1. Low-fat food items and dairy products are preferable. Patients can have skimmed milk or yogurt. 2. A lot of water intake is necessary. Patients are told to have as much water as they could. 3. Whole grain food items like Brown Bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta are a good source of fibre. This would help overcome the problem of constipation. 4. Baked/broiled items are preferably better to be consumed rather than fried items. 5. Green and leafy vegetables rich in Vitamin B and calcium must be included in the diet. Eg: Broccoli, spinach, capsicum.

6. Apple and bananas are the most preferred fruits for hiatal hernia patients as they are known to reduce acid production in the stomach.

Let us see what to include and what to avoid in the diet if you are suffering from a hiatus hernia.

Foods to avoid:
The foods that are highly acidic and can aggravate GERD. These foods have acid that may not be good for the stomach. These include chocolates, garlic, onions, coffee, tea, carbonated drinks, dairy products like milk, ice cream, cream-based foods, oil, butter, citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapes, spicy food, tomato-based sauces, alcohol, peppermint and mint.

Foods to Eat:
People with heartburn should eat and cook their food in a healthy way. Let us see what foods can help heat burn. These include healthy fats like avocado, coconut and olive oils, walnuts, clarified butter, grains such as oatmeal, multigrain, brown bread, brown rice, foods high in protein such as turkey, salmon, chicken, eggs, legumes, fruits such as banana and apple, vegetables such as peas, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, baked potato, green beans, low fat yogurt, herbal drinks such as tea.

Some important tips on diet include the following:

• Eat smaller and more frequent meals than a larger meal at a time.
• Chew food very well in order to aid digestion.
• Have moist food as much as possible.
• Eat in a calm and relax place.
• Do not eat while standing.
• Do not sleep immediately after eating.
• Lose weight if overweight.
• Stop smoking and drinking alcohol completely.
• Visit your doctor regularly for follow-ups.

By implementing these diet changes, you can increase the chances of recovery after a hiatal hernia surgery faster and healthily. Talk to your doctor to know more about the treatment options. This condition may be troubling but gets better after adjusting the diet.

A hiatal hernia occurs when a part of the stomach enters the chest cavity through a hole in the diaphragm. In this disease, the patient gets reflux of stomach acids into the esophagus which gives a burning sensation in the chest and throat. The exact cause of this problem is not known but, the disease is very common and affects almost 60% of people by the age of 60.

If you are not suffering from unusually severe and problematic hiatal hernia, the best way to reduce symptoms is to make dietary and lifestyle changes.

Also Read: Difference between Hiatal Hernia and GERD

Foods To Eat When Suffering from Hiatal Hernia

The best food options for people with hiatal hernia are non-acidic, minimally processed, and rich in dietary fiber. Here are some suggestions about foods to reduce the symptoms of hiatal hernia.

• Leafy greens
• Whole grains
• Beans and peas
• Lean proteins
• Tofu
• Fish
• Nuts and seeds
• Noncitrus fruits and juices
• Ginger 
• Low-fat and non-sweetened dairy products
• Cardamom
• Coriander
• Apple cider vinegar
• Noncaffeinated teas like green teas
• Probiotic foods without sugar as sugar supports the growth of stomach microbes.

Also read: How To Use Ginger for Sore throat

Foods To Avoid When Suffering from Hiatal Hernia

It is good for people with a hiatal hernia to stay away from foods that are acidic, rich, oily, or have preservatives.

Foods to avoid may include:

• Fried or oily foods
• Fatty foods
• Red meat
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Cocoa and chocolate
• Tomatoes and tomato sauces
• Carbonated drinks
• Most types of mint
• Sweetened juices or teas
• Garlic
• Onions
• Spring onions
• Cucumbers
• High-fat dairy products
• Salty foods, and
• Junk foods

Also read: How tomatoes help in curing varicose veins

Lifestyle tips Hiatal Patients Should Follow

Some lifestyle adjustments are needed to help manage their hiatal hernia symptoms.

• Stay hydrated. Drink lots of fluids throughout the day.
• Eat smaller meals throughout the day. 
• Keep a checklist of the foods that can trigger acid reflux symptoms and should not be eaten by hiatal hernia patients.
• Eat and chew food slowly and thoroughly to promote digestion.
• Avoid eating just before exercising or bending over.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing.
• Keep a healthy weight.
• Use a high pillow while sleeping as it makes harder for stomach acid to travel up the esophagus.
• Quit smoking.
• Eat whole foods instead of processed or refined foods.
• Exercise moderately for at least 20 minutes daily.
• Avoid fried foods.

Cooking Tips To Keep In Mind For Hernia Patients

Some simple tips can help hernia patients avoid triggering acid reflux. This tips should be followed while preparing the meal-

• To sauté foods, use healthy oil such as olive oil, grapeseed oil, and avocado oil
• Eat whole dietary- fibers whenever possible.
• Don’t deep fry foods
• Restrict eating processed and packaged ingredients.
• Cook food in healthy oils such as coconut oil, avocado oil that doesn’t break down in high heat
• While having a meal, make sure to incorporate fermented foods such as yogurt and fermented foods.
• Eat small portion of meals frequently throughout the day.
• Drink lots of fluids. You should aim for drinking almost eight glasses of water per day.
• Add probiotics in your daily diet. Some examples are yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and pickles.

Also Read: Hiatal Hernia Natural Treatment and Remedies