If you have acid reflux you might be wondering if hummus is a good choice and if it can trigger or worsen acid reflux.
Typically, hummus is not the best choice if you have acid reflux. That’s mainly because it has some ingredients which can be triggering for acid reflux. While hummus may be okay for certain people it can also be a trigger for others.
Below we will get into this in more detail and if hummus will be a good choice for you.
Is Hummus Good or Bad for Acid Reflux?
Hummus will not always be good or bad for everyone. Some people may be able to have hummus without any negative effects whereas others might notice that hummus with almost immediately trigger their acid reflux symptoms.
Hummus has some common acid reflux triggers included in the mixture like garlic and lemon juice. Though when they are mixed with the chickpeas that have been cooked and blended it does lower their potential to trigger acid reflux issues as they have basically been diluted by the chick peas mixture. Below we will break down each of the common ingredients in hummus and their effect on acid reflux if any.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are the main ingredient that is used in hummus. The chickpeas are cooked then mashed or blended to make them into a paste. Chickpeas are usually a safe option for most people with acid reflux. The only exception to this is people with gut problems where the excess fiber may irritate problems for some and the high FODMAPs can be problematic for some too. Though for most people chickpeas are a great choice for acid reflux.
Tahini
If you didn’t know tahini is a paste that is made from sesame seeds being blended up. This is completely fine for all people with acid reflux.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a trigger for acid reflux due to its high acidity. When it’s mixed with the chickpeas and the tahini it’s acidity with be at least partially neutralized and should make it more tolerated. Though for people with more sensitive acid reflux this can still be an issue.
Garlic
Garlic is one of the most likely trigger elements to the hummus mixture. Partly because it is raw, and this makes it much stronger and more likely to trigger acid reflux problems. Even when combined with the other ingredients it can and still will trigger people’s acid reflux quite often. For more on garlic check our article- Is Garlic Acidic or Alkaline? (Bad for Acid Reflux?)
Other common ingredients include:
Olive Oil
Olive oil is another good ingredient that is safe for everyone with acid reflux. For more on olive oil check our article – Does Olive Oil Cause Acid Reflux?
Paprika
Paprika is from made from sweet or bell peppers. It’s these peppers that have been dried. It’s a relatively safe spice for acid reflux. When mixed into the hummus mixture it will be fine for almost everyone to eat without concern.
Parsley
Finally, is parsley. Parsley is a great herb and the same can be said when mixed with hummus. It’s completely fine for acid reflux as are most herbs excluding mint and lemongrass.
Overall
As you can see a lot of the most common ingredients used in hummus are quite suitable if you have acid reflux though there are a couple of issues there. Most importantly the raw garlic which is quite a common irritate for acid reflux. The second part is the lemon juice which is also very acidic and too can be irritable for certain people with acid reflux even with it’s been mixed with the chickpeas.
In terms of acidity hummus is usually around a pH of 4.5-5. This makes it acidic on the pH scale. It isn’t very acidic, but it is acidic enough to bother people with more sensitive acid reflux like LPR.
Overall if you have acid reflux and want to try hummus it would be best to try a small amount of it and work from there. If you have more sensitive or severe acid reflux chances are it would be best to avoid hummus because it could well be a trigger for you. If you really want to try it you can do so in moderation and work from there if you notice no negative effects from eating it.
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Important Related Questions
Are Chickpeas Good for Acid Reflux?
Chickpeas are generally considered a safe choice if you have acid reflux. Though some people may be affected by chickpeas due to their high fiber content or high FODMAP which can be problematic for people with gut issues like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).
How Do You Make Hummus Less Acidic?
Usually, the best way to make hummus less acidic is by adding more chickpeas to the mixture. Also cutting out or lowering the amount of garlic and lemon juice will also help a lot.
Does Hummus Cause Stomach Acid?
Hummus does cause stomach acid though it’s not extremely excessive or bad.
Is Hummus Good for Stomach Problems?
Hummus is not the best thing in the world for stomach problems no. It can be problematic for certain people and can worsen acid reflux too.