If you have acid reflux and are wanting to eat some cabbage you might be wondering if cabbage is a good choice if you have acid reflux?
Cabbage is typically a good choice if you have acid reflux. It’s nutritious and has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, all of which can help ease and aid acid reflux. Keep in mind though that cabbage may still trigger certain people’s acid reflux.
Below we will go into all this in more detail.
Is Cabbage Good for Acid Reflux or GERD?
Firstly, cabbage is considered one of the cruciferous vegetables. It’s got many nutrients including vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and folate too. Importantly it also has glucosinolates. Glucosinolates have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. These are the important factors that can help acid reflux.
These anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce the inflammation in the digestive tract and the stomach. If you didn’t know inflammation is a typical trigger for acid reflux that can be affected by foods, medications or even things like stress or anxiety. The anti-inflammatory properties will help soothe any inflammation which should calm and ease the stomach and any acid reflux symptoms.
Another benefit when it comes to cabbage for acid reflux is its ability to help neutralize excess stomach acid. Cabbage is an alkaline forming food which basically means it will help to balance the acidity of the stomach and the stomachs pH. Therefore, if your stomach is too acidic it may help lower its acidity which in turn should lessen acid reflux symptoms.
Next it’s important to mention that cabbage is a good source of fiber. Fiber is known to help improve digestion and gut health and lower the chances of constipation at least for some people. Things like constipation and diarrhea are often linked to acid reflux. If your gut health is not right then chances are much higher your acid reflux will be worse. Therefore, eating cabbage can help balance and soothe gut health which often also helps acid reflux issues.
It’s also important to mention that while cruciferous vegetables like cabbage are nutritious they can also worsen certain peoples acid reflux symptoms. For some people they may experience things like gas and bloating, both of which will often only make acid reflux symptoms worse. Therefore, if you are someone you has problems with their gut health in particular – when eating cabbage it would be a good idea to start with a small amount first to make sure your symptoms aren’t worsened before eating a bigger amount.
When comparing cooked cabbage with raw cabbage, cooked cabbage will be easier to digest and is less likely to cause acid reflux than raw cabbage. Therefore if you want to stay on the side of caution you should opt for cooked cabbage at least the first time. You can then later try raw cabbage and work from there if you notice no acid reflux effects.
When it comes to the acidity of cabbage it is around a 6 pH. While this is acidic on the pH scale it is quite a low acidity when it comes to foods. Therefore, in terms of acidity it should be absolutely safe for all people even with more severe acid reflux like GERD or silent reflux.
For more advice on food choices check my Wipeout Diet Plan. Also for a acid reflux treatment and advice conside a Private Consultation here.
Important Related Questions
Is Cabbage High in Acid?
No cabbage is not high in acid. While it is acidic it is quite a low acidity and nothing to be concerned about.
Does Cabbage Lower Stomach Acid?
Cabbage can help lower the stomachs acidity yes because it is an alkaline forming food.
Does Cabbage Cause Gas?
For some people cabbage can cause excess gas that that lead to things like bloating and excess burping and flatulence. While this is not the norm it can happen for certain people.
Is Cooked Cabbage Good for Gastritis?
Cooked cabbage should typically be good for gastritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to calm and lower the acidity in the stomach.