Short Answer: Mayonnaise is bad for acid reflux because it has fat, vinegar, and sometimes mustard and they can increase your stomach acidity, relax your LES, and irritate your esophagus.
Acid reflux is a condition that affects your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.
In acid reflux, your body produces too much stomach acid or the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that prevents the acid from flowing back into the esophagus, is weak or relaxed.
This can lead to various health problems, such as heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, cough, and even esophageal cancer.
One of the key factors in managing acid reflux is diet.
What you consume can affect your stomach acidity, which can impact your acid reflux symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage acid reflux, you should consume alkaline foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds and avoid acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods.
Now, mayonnaise is a condiment that is made from eggs, oil, vinegar, and sometimes mustard.
People usually use it to add flavor and creaminess to sandwiches, salads, and dips.
Mayonnaise is bad for acid reflux because it contains fat, vinegar, and sometimes mustard.
These ingredients can increase your stomach acidity, relax your LES, and irritate your esophagus.
One tablespoon of mayonnaise can give you about 10 grams of fat, 0.1 grams of carbohydrates, and 0.1 grams of protein.
It also has about 90 calories and 88 milligrams of sodium.
Fat can slow down your digestion and increase the pressure on your stomach, which can cause acid reflux.
Vinegar and mustard are acidic and can lower the pH of your stomach, making it more prone to reflux.
They can also trigger inflammation and pain in your esophagus.
Furthermore, mayonnaise is a high-calorie and high-sodium food and can contribute to weight gain and high blood pressure.
These conditions can worsen your acid reflux by putting more pressure on your stomach and LES.
That’s why I suggest you limit your mayonnaise intake to avoid aggravating your acid reflux symptoms.
Stick to one teaspoon or less per day to minimize the risk of heartburn, chest pain, and other discomforts.
Also, you shouldn’t eat mayonnaise if you have or suffer from hiatal hernia, a condition where part of your stomach pushes up through your diaphragm and into your chest.
This can make your acid reflux worse by weakening your LES and allowing more acid to escape into your esophagus.
You can buy mayonnaise in your local market or order it online.
Always choose low-fat or light mayonnaise options, as they have less fat and calories than regular mayonnaise.
Because they still contain vinegar and sometimes mustard, you should still use them sparingly and with caution.
You can store them in the refrigerator for up to two months after opening.
Read Next
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing acid reflux effectively.
I always recommend my acid reflux patients to follow an acid reflux-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.
