Medically reviewed and approved by a board-certified member
Acid Reflux / GERD

Foods to eat and avoid for a hiatal hernia

BS Media
By BS Media Twitter Profile
Published: Friday, 29 December 2017
BS
Login to get unlimited free access
Table of contents
  1. Foods to eat
  2. Foods to avoid
  3. Lifestyle tips
  4. Hiatal herniation and dietary changes
  5. When to see a doctor
A hiatal herniation occurs when part of the stomach enters the chest cavity through a hole in the diaphragm. normally, a hiatal herniation does not cause noticeable symptoms.

Researchers are not sure why they develop, but hiatal herniations are very common, estimated to impact up to 60 percentage of people by the age of 60.

The primary symptom of a hiatal herniation is dyspepsia; certain foods and life style habits can increase a person's chances of experiencing uncomfortable symptoms.

Unless a person has an remarkably severe and problematic hiatal herniation, the best way for them to reduce or prevent symptoms is to make dietary and life style adjustments.

Foods to eat


Leafy green vegetables should be enclosed in a hiatal herniation diet.

Non- or low-acidic foods will reduce the likeliness and severity of hiatal herniation symptoms. The best food choices for people with hiatal herniations are non-acidic, maximally processed, and contain dietary fiber.

There are some exceptions for those who have food intolerances. Elimination diets may be helpful for optimum improvement in symptoms.

Safe foods to eat may include:

  • leafy greens
  • beans and peas
  • whole grains
  • lean macromolecules, including bean curd and fish
  • whole balmy and seeds
  • non-citrus fruits and juices
  • artichoke and asparagus
  • cinnamon
  • ginger
  • low-fat, non-sugared dairy farm products
  • cardamom
  • coriander
  • apple cyder vinegar
  • non-caffeinated teas, especially green teas

Fermented or civilized foods that are rich in probiotics (acid-neutralizing stomach bacteria) may besides help reduce hiatal herniation symptoms.

Popular fermented foods include:

  • unsugared yogurt
  • pickles
  • kimchi
  • kefir
  • quark
  • sauerkraut
  • kombucha
  • cheese
  • miso
  • bean curd
  • tempeh
  • buttermilk
  • natto

It is important to note that overwhelming processed sugar aboard probiotics may be harmful. Sugar supports the growth of stomach microbes that destroy and consume probiotics.

This means that probiotic ice creams, juices, yogurts, sugared macromolecule powders, and gummies are atypically not a good source of probiotics.

Foods to avoid


Tomatoes and onions should be avoided as they will aggravate a hiatal herniation.

Avoiding certain foods mightiness help reduce and prevent symptoms of dyspepsia, including pyrosis, bloating, gas, and regurgitation.

It is best for people with a hiatal herniation to stay away from foods that are acidic, rich, oily, or contain preservatives.

Foods to avoid may include:

  • deep-fried or oily foods
  • fatty foods
  • red meat
  • caffeine
  • alcohol
  • cocoa and chocolate
  • tomatoes and tomato sauces
  • soft drinks and effervescent drinks
  • most types of mint, so much as peppermint and spearmint
  • candies
  • sugared juices or teas
  • high amounts of cookery oils
  • garlic, onions, green onions, shallots, scallions, leeks, and chives
  • cucumbers
  • high-fat dairy farm products
  • salty foods
  • deli meats
  • pre-prepared or fast foods
  • bread and cereals
What is a hiatal herniation?
Learn all about hiatal herniations, where part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm. This page looks at hiatal herniation causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Read now

Lifestyle tips

Aside from diet, a person could try making some life style adjustments to help manage their hiatal herniation symptoms.

Lifestyle tips for trfeeding hiatal herniation symptoms include:

  • staying hydrated
  • keeping a log of trigger foods and avoiding them
  • feeding frequent, littler snacks and meals spread throughout the day
  • feeding slowly and drinking plenty of fluids with meals
  • getting enough dietary fiber
  • avoiding non-clear liquids inside 3 hours before bed
  • avoiding feeding before exercise
  • avoiding bending over or egg laying down inside 3 hours of feeding
  • wearing baggy clothing
  • maintaining a healthy body weight
  • using a wedge pillow to elevate the head 8 to 10 inches piece sleeping, making it harder for stomach acid to travel up the oesophagus (food pipe)
  • quitting smoking
  • taking probiotics
  • feeding whole foods instead of processed or refined foods
  • exercising moderately for at least 20 proceedings daily
  • avoiding deep-fried foods
  • using small amounts of healthful cookery oils, so much as coconut, rice, and olive oil
  • avoiding being too hungry or too full

Drinking a small amount of diluted apple cyder vinegar at the beginning of meals may besides help reduce symptoms.

Managing stress and practicing stress-reducing strategies, so much as walking, being in nature, heedfulness, meditation, or yoga, may help a person feel better.

A person can besides take over-the-counter antacids, though long-run use does carry risks.

Hiatal herniation and dietary changes


A doctor may order medication to ease dyspepsia symptoms.

Indigestion is the primary and often the only symptom of a hiatal herniation. Most of the more serious health complications associated with the condition occur because of untreated degenerative dyspepsia.

These complications include passage scarring and internal hemorrhage.

Diet plays a significant role in the development, severity, and length of hiatal herniation symptoms. But aside from causation inflammation and irritation, researchers are not sure how and why certain foods cause a hiatal herniation to develop.

Most of the studies exploring the connection between diet and dyspepsia have focused on gastropassage reflux illness (GERD), a condition that may lead to a hiatal herniation.

When to see a doctor

A person should seek medical attention for dyspepsia that lasts thirster than 3 consecutive days.

A doctor should besides assess pyrosis, abdominal pain, bloating, gas or regurgitation that does not improve with the use of antacids, dietary changes, and life style adjustments.

Hiatal herniations can cause serious health risks, including passage damage and associated internal hemorrhage, though this is rare.

A doctor can order medications designed to treat dyspepsia that can reduce discomfort and improve the overall quality of life for people with hiatal herniations. nevertheless, making life style and diet changes is often the best first step as there is unlikely to be any side effects.

Sometimes, if a hiatal herniation causes particularly annoying symptoms, surgery may be necessary.

Was this page helpful?
(0 votes)
End of the article