Try is a very popular drink all over the world. There are a wide variety of types, flavors, and methods to make tea.
However, people with acid reflux might experience symptoms after drinking tea.
What is acid reflux?
Acid reflux happens when the stomach contents can flow back up into the food pipe. This highly acidic material starts to irritate the lining of the esophagus, causing a burning pain around the middle of the chest. This is called heartburn, it is the most typical symptom of acid reflux.
The direct cause of acid reflux is a malfunctioning lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This is a muscle between the food pipe and the stomach.
Most of the time this muscle is closed and stomach material cannot enter back into the esophagus. However, when this muscle is relaxed, stomach acids can seep back into the food pipe, causing symptoms like chest pain.
Let’s see what the most important factors are that reflux sufferers should consider before going for a good cup of tea!
The type of the tea
- black tea
- green tea
- white tea
- oolong tea
- herbal tea
- rooibos tea
Both black and green teas can cause chest pain for people who are prone to acid reflux. A cup of black tea contains about 47mg of caffeine. Green tea contains somewhat less, around 28mg caffeine.
The problem with caffeine is that it is known to decrease LES pressure and therefore promote acid reflux.
Also check– Best Matcha tea in Australia
Milk, lemon, sugar, honey
- Sugar, especially added sugar, is a common trigger food for acid reflux.
- Honey also contains a lot of sugar, even though it is less likely to cause problems.
- Lemon and other citrus fruits are also common triggers.
- Full-fat cow milk is hard to digest, therefore it can lead to symptoms. Try goat milk or plant-based milk instead.
Too hot or cold tea
Too hot and too cold drinks might interfere with the digestion process. This is usually not a problem for most healthy people, as their bodies can handle the extra work these drinks put on the digestive tract.
However, people with acid reflux might experience symptoms after a cup of very hot or ice-cold tea.
It is also good to know, that both hot and cold drinks might trigger esophageal spasms, which might cause severe chest pain, just like acid reflux.
What teas to drink if you have acid reflux?
Most types of teas are safe for people with acid reflux, just avoid black and green teas.
Also make sure you don’t drink excessive amounts, drinking too much can make your stomach full, which makes reflux symptoms more likely.
Most herbal teas can be a great choice: marshmallow, licorice, and chamomile are all considered to be reflux-friendly.
