Do you like the sweet earthy taste of carrots? It can be eaten raw as a snack and adds flavor to cooked meals. Do you wonder if this delicious and protein-packed vegetable has any disadvantages?
This article answers the most common question; do carrots cause acid reflux? Keep reading to find out.
Table of Contents
Do Carrots Cause Acid Reflux?
No, carrots won’t cause acid reflux, even though they are slightly acidic. They are alkalizing and considered good for digestion, which makes them one of the root vegetables beneficial to your health. However, each person reacts differently to acid reflux which means that even though the probability of carrots causing acid reflux is low, it’s not impossible.
When your lower esophageal sphincter disrupts and allows stomach acids into your stomach, a digestive problem known as acid reflux occurs. When this situation is neglected, it becomes more frequent and becomes gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is understandable to guess your food choices second once you develop GERD, so if you don’t know whether carrots are good for you or not? Keep reading and learn more about its connection with your digestive system and acid reflux.
Why are Carrots Good for Acid Reflux?
Carrot is a vegetable that is not only delicious but has several health benefits. Below are listed some of the main factors why acid reflux is not likely to cause or worsen your acid reflux.
High Fiber Content
Fiber is considered a substantial digestive aid for acid reflux, so patients are always recommended to consume high-fiber foods. Fiber can absorb liquids from your stomach, and it’s easier for your system to process than high-fat foods and dairy products.
Both these factors are helpful because once fiber absorbs the excess stomach acids, there’ll be little left to leak in your food pipe. Secondly, stomach contents that take a long time to break down in the digestive process take up a lot of space in your stomach and ultimately force the acids to flow into your lower esophagus. Not only this, but they can also catch bacteria and add to the acid’s toxicity. This worsens the symptoms of acid reflux and increases the acid levels.
Carrots to your advantage contain 2.8g of fiber per 100 grams, and you can enjoy 1.5g of fiber from a single medium carrot.
Carrot is good because
- It will encourage your intestine’s motility.
- It will move along the digestive tract rather quickly
- It promotes the development of infection-killing good bacteria
Rich in Nutrients And Minerals
Carrots are also rich in minerals and vitamins, like other root vegetables. Carrot is abundant in magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A to calcium, vitamin C, and K1. All these essential nutrients benefit your body in other ways, but let’s talk about how they will help with acid reflux.
Potassium will help control your body’s acid production, while vitamin C will relieve acid reflux symptoms. This vitamin is also an antioxidant which means it is likely to have anti-inflammatory properties that will reduce the burning sensation and heartburn symptoms. Besides that, it will also boost your immune system and promote the growth of antibodies.
Furthermore, calcium will neutralize the acids in your stomach and immediately reduce heartburn. It is also used as an active ingredient in several antacids. Magnesium, on the other hand, will reduce the spasm of your lower esophageal sphincter and regulate muscle contraction. Once that happens, the risk of acid reflux will subside significantly.
| Nutritional Breakdown Analysis | |
|---|---|
| Dietary Fiber | 1% |
| protein | 2.8% |
| Magnesium | 0.12% (12mg) |
| Minerals | 5-6% |
Are Carrots Acidic?
Anything under the ph of 7.0 is considered acidic, and since carrots have a pH of 5.4 – 6.8, they are slightly acidic. However, this doesn’t make carrots harmful to acid reflux patients.
As you can see, its ph level is very close to neutral and contains minerals such as magnesium and sodium. These minerals are naturally alkalizing and help your kidneys maintain the appropriate ph level in your body.
Hence, much like other alkaline foods, carrots also have an alkalizing effect on your body and are safe.
Do Baby Carrots Cause Acid Reflux?
This may surprise you, but baby carrots and regular-sized carrots are not much different. In fact, baby carrots are actually regular carrots, just cut into small sizes.
So all the ph levels, advantages, and drawbacks will remain the same. If a medium or large carrot is acting as a trigger for you, then unfortunately, so will a baby carrot.
Do Carrots Cause Acid Reflux in Babies?
Carrots are filled with nutrients and proteins, which most certainly make them beneficial for your growing child. But are you worried that your infant’s upset stomach is a side effect of this vegetable?
Don’t worry because, as discussed above, carrots have an alkalizing effect on your body; the same applies to children.
Their upset stomach could be a result of raw carrots’ consumption. Since babies don’t have teeth, they’ll most likely chew the entire piece down, which can cause an upset stomach.
Meanwhile, boiled or cooked carrots will aid their growth and provide them the essential nutrients.
Remember that solid foods are only safe for infants above 6 months.
Is Carrot Juice Good for Acid Reflux?
Carrot juice is considered suitable for acid reflux because it has a ph level of 6 and less acidity than other fruit juices. Its ph makes it arguably close to neutral and safe for Acid Reflux.
How to make carrot juice at home
- Chop around 9 medium-sized carrots into small parts
- Add in ¼ – ½ (quarter to half) glass of water in the blender
- Blend until a thick puree form
- Pour it and enjoy
Carrot’s Ph range in Different Variations
| Carrot’s type | Ph value |
| Cooked carrots | 5.58 – 6.03 |
| Raw carrots | 5.88 – 6.40 |
| Puree carrots | 4.55 – 5.80 |
| Baby carrots | 5.88 – 6.40 |
| Canned carrots | 5.18 – 5.22 |
Now you can choose which form is best for you to eat.
The closer to 7.0 (neutral) on the ph scale, the better.
Precautions To Take While Eating Carrots With Acid Reflux
- Eat in moderation because too much fiber can often cause digestive issues such as gas and bloating
- Don’t pair carrots with GERD triggers such as spicy foods, fried food, or acidic foods
- Carrot allergy is common, so don’t keep eating carrots if you have noticeable allergic reactions,
- Eat carrots with other beneficial substances such as sweet potatoes, whole grains, brown rice, green vegetables, Brussels sprouts, etc
- Cook carrots in olive oil instead
Do Carrots Cause Acid Reflux Summary
It is always recommended to consult a doctor before cutting something as nutritious and beneficial as carrots out of your diet. If you aren’t sure about carrots’ effect on your body and their tendency to cause acid reflux, try keeping a food diary.
A diary will help you track the GERD symptoms and discomfort each food causes, and then you can eliminate it from your diet.
In this article, we discussed carrot’s relationship with acid reflux in-depth, but if you have any other queries, feel free to contact us.
We hope this article helped you understand the question: do carrots cause acid reflux? If it did, then make sure to share it with your friends and family as well.
