If you have acid reflux you might be wondering if peanut butter is a good choice and if it is acidic or not.
Peanut butter typically is a good choice if you have acid reflux. Though not all peanut butters are as good as others, for example peanut butter made from only peanuts with no additives is often the best choice.
Below we will get into peanut butter in more detail and what you should know about eating it if you have acid reflux.
Is Peanut Butter Good or Bad for Acid Reflux?
If you have acid reflux or GERD chances are that peanut butter is a fine choice. Typically, peanut butter is made mostly from peanuts.
Peanuts are the main and perhaps the only ingredient for some brands of peanut butter. Peanuts typically are a fine choice if you have acid reflux, and most people can enjoy them without concern of them causing or worsening acid reflux symptoms.
The only case where peanuts may be problematic is their fiber contents. For some people if they eat excess fiber this can cause issues with gut health with can sometimes lead to things like excess gas or bloating. This excess gas can sometimes cause or contribute to stomach distention and in turn acid reflux. This is more likely to happen when you eat a lot of peanut butter and is much less likely to happen if you keep your peanut butter in moderation. Overall though most people should not be concerned about the peanuts themselves in peanut butter.
Some brands of peanut butter may only have peanuts included and other brands may have added extras such as sugar and palm oil. Ideally if you have acid reflux it would be best to opt for peanut butter that only has peanuts in the ingredients and nothing else. This way the peanut butter will be more natural and therefore easier to digest and typically less acidic than the brands that have added extra ingredients.
If you only have more minimal acid reflux then these added ingredients will most likely not be any problem to you as they are only more minimal issues. Though for someone with more severe acid reflux like GERD or LPR may want to be a little more careful as their ingredients could potentially cause mild irritation.
In terms of acidity peanut butter is slightly acidic with a pH of around 6.1 depending on the brand and the ingredients used. As we mentioned before, peanut butter that has nothing added is more likely to be less acidic than peanut butter with added ingredients. Even though peanut butter is acidic on the pH scale it is only slightly acidic, and this is nothing to be concerned about even if you have more severe acid reflux.
Round Up
If you have acid reflux peanut butter is a good choice. Generally, for most people peanut butter will be fine and will not cause or worsen acid reflux problems. For most people they can eat any kind of peanut butter whether it has additives or not.
Though typically the best kinds are ones without additives because they are more natural, which make them a little easier to digest and also a little less acidic. Therefore, if you have more severe or sensitive acid reflux it would be best to opt for the peanut butter brands made up of 100% peanuts and nothing else added.
Overall peanut butter is a good choice for most people even with more severe acid reflux.
For more detailed diet advice and guidance for acid reflux check out our Wipeout Diet Plan. Also, for tailored advice and support book a Private Acid Reflux Consultation Here.
Important Related Questions
Is Peanut Butter a Cause of Acid Reflux?
Peanut butter is not typically a cause of acid reflux. Though there may be some people who are irritated by eating too much peanut butter. Usually that is due to too much fiber contents.
Is Bread or Toast Good for Acid Reflux?
Usually bread or toast is a fine choice if you have acid reflux. Ideally the best kinds of bread are the ones with the least ingredients and preservatives. Bread with less preservatives tends to be less acidic and easier to digest. This is especially important to consider if your acid reflux is more severe.