If you have acid reflux or things like heartburn you might be wondering if chamomile tea is a good choice.
Chamomile tea is a good choice for acid reflux and heartburn. This is because of its calming and soothing properties which have been shown to be anti-inflammatory amongst other benefits.
Below we will go into this in more detail, so you know if chamomile tea is a good choice for you.
Is Chamomile Tea Good or Bad for Acid Reflux?
Before we talk about if chamomile tea is good for acid reflux its first important we talk about chamomile tea itself. Chamomile is an herbal tea that is known for it’s calming and relaxing properties. It’s made from dried flowers of the chamomile plant. Chamomile tea has been used for many years as a digestive aliment.
The main benefits of chamomile tea are its anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties. What that means is that it helps calm and soothe inflammation in the digestive treat along with the stomach muscles and even the intestines. These benefits often can help acid reflux symptoms like heartburn and indigestion to name a couple. In addition to these benefits chamomile tea also has flavonoids. Flavonoids help protect the body against damage from free radicals (anticancer properties).
In studies chamomile has been shown to have these anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, as we mentioned before both could also help your acid reflux symptoms.
Thanks to chamomile teas soothing and calming properties it can also help if you are stressed or anxious. As has been researched, things like stress and anxiety are common triggers or causes for acid reflux. Therefore in theory drinking chamomile tea could help lower any stress or anxiety you might have which in turn shown help calm your acid reflux symptoms.
In terms of acidity, you can expect chamomile tea to be about a 6-7 pH. While this is acidic it is only slightly acidic and therefore there should not be any concern for it being overly acidic regardless even if you have more severe acid reflux like GERD or silent reflux.
Keep in mind that some people might be allergic to chamomile. This is particularly likely if you are allergic to other plants in the daisy family. Also, it’s important to mention if you drink chamomile and notice your acid reflux symptoms becoming worse then it may be best for you to avoid it. Although it seems to be quite rare when chamomile tea might be irritating for acid reflux.
If you aren’t sure when is the best time to drink chamomile it can be drank at any time really. Although ideally it would be best not to drink it just after eating a medium to larger meal. That’s because if you drink it after a meal it may cause the stomach to become overloaded, and this increases the chances of acid reflux. Aside from that, drinking chamomile on an empty stomach may offer the best benefit, as the tea will be able to get in contact with the whole digestive tract and stomach and should allow it to ease any symptoms of inflammation or irritation.
In conclusion if you have acid reflux whether it’s more minimal or severe chamomile tea should be a good choice that can help calm and soothe acid reflux symptoms. It’s often considered one of the best herbal teas out there that is almost always a good choice for acid reflux or any digestion issues.
Important Related Questions
What Teas are Good for Acid Reflux?
The best teas for acid reflux are chamomile tea and marshmallow root tea. Both offer soothing properties that tend to help calm and ease acid reflux symptoms.
Does Chamomile Tea Lower Stomach Acid?
Chamomile tea will not greatly lower stomach acid most likely. There have been no studies confirming this.
Can I Drink Chamomile Tea Before Bed with Acid Reflux?
Yes you can drink chamomile tea before bed. Actually, this is a great time to drink chamomile tea as it will help you relax and get to sleep more easily.
Can I Drink Tea if I Have Acid Reflux?
Some teas can be drunk if you have acid reflux such as the ones mentioned above. If you want to drink traditional black tea it can be problematic for certain people. This is because of the caffeine included and the acidity and overall properties of the tea.
If you have mild acid reflux normal black tea may be okay for you but if you have more severe acid reflux like GERD or silent reflux then the chances are higher that black tea may be problematic for you. If you want to drink black tea then I recommend starting with a small cup first and see if it has any affect on you before drinking more of it.
