If you have acid reflux you might be wondering if frozen yogurt is a good choice and if it could trigger acid reflux symptoms.
Frozen yogurt is an okay choice if you have acid reflux. What I mean by that is that for some people it may be okay to have whereas for others it might trigger acid reflux issues.
Below we will go into frozen yogurt in more detail and if you should eat it if you have acid reflux.
Is Frozen Yogurt Good or Bad for Acid Reflux?
Frozen yogurt is often compared as the healthier option to ice cream and while that is true it doesn’t necessarily mean that the frozen yogurt is too healthy itself.
One of the main differences between ice cream and frozen yogurt usually is the fat content. Ice cream is very high in fat whereas yogurt has a comparatively lower amount of fat. Though keep in mind that yogurt usually still has fat included it’s just not as high as ice cream is. You can expect ice cream to have about 4-5 times as much fat as it’s frozen yogurt counterpart.
Frozen yogurt usually has a similar amount of sugar when compared with ice cream. Sugar itself is usually okay in smaller amounts for people with acid reflux but more problems can arise when too much sugar is taken.
As frozen yogurt is quite high in sugar this can be problematic for some people with acid reflux. That’s because sugar can increase acid production in the stomach so when you eat too much of it this it increases the chances of acid reflux.
Often what matters here is how much frozen yogurt that you eat. If you eat a lot you will be eating also a lot of sugar which may induce or increase chances of acid reflux. If you eat only a small amount of frozen yogurt then you’ll only be having a little sugar which will lower the chances of acid reflux. Therefore, when it comes to sugar how much you have eaten is important.
When it comes to the acidity of frozen yogurt you can expect it to be around a 4-5 pH depending on the ingredients and makeup of the yogurt. This makes it acidic on the pH scale. While it is not very acidic it is basically a middle ground when it comes to acidity. For more sensitive people or people with more severe acid reflux like GERD or LPR the acidity may be problematic for them. While this won’t be the case for everyone more sensitive people may be affected by the acidity alone.
If you do want to eat some frozen yogurt and you have acid reflux it would be first best to start with a small amount. This way you can see if it has any negative effects on your acid reflux symptoms. Also, when you eat it in a smaller amount this really lowers the chances of it causing or affecting your acid reflux symptoms. If you eat it and you notice no negative effects, you can then try the following time to eat a little more than before and build up that way. Just remember though that the more you eat the higher the chance that it could worsen your acid reflux.
If you usually eat ice cream and want to swap to frozen yogurt it should be a little less likely to trigger acid reflux symptoms. The main reason for this is because of the fat content. Ice cream has a lot more fat content. And fat usually increases the chances of acid reflux therefore frozen yogurt is probably a slightly better choice than ice cream when it comes to acid reflux. Though the difference isn’t as big as some may have let you believe. For more on ice cream check our article – Is Ice Cream Good for Acid Reflux?
One final thing to mention about frozen yogurt is it being dairy. Dairy for certain people may be problematic because of dairy or lactose. Therefore, for these people too much dairy and therefore yogurt could also be a trigger.
If you need more diet advice for acid reflux check our Wipeout Diet Plan. Also for more tailored advice on acid reflux book a Private Consultation Here.
Important Related Questions
Does Frozen Yogurt Cause Indigestion?
Frozen yogurt might cause indigestion for certain people. This could be due to its acidity, high sugar contents, dairy or other additives which may not agree with everyone’s digestive system.
Is Frozen Yogurt Easy on the Stomach?
Frozen yogurt is usually okay on the stomach at least in moderation. For people with acid reflux, they may find that it worsens symptoms but for others it may be completely fine. This is usually on a case-by-case basis.