Yogurt

Yogurt acts as a temporary buffer, soothing heartburn symptoms. “One of the reasons we’re symptomatic with acid reflux is because it causes damage to the lining of the esophagus”, says Nipaporn Pichetshote, M .D ., a gastroenterology specialist in Los Angeles affiliated with Cedar s-Sinai Medical Center. “Milk and yogurt coat the esophagus so you don’t feel that acid irritating that lining”.

But opt for skim or low-fat varieties, rather than those made from whole milk. “Foods that are higher in fat can cause more reflux”, says Pichetshote, who explains that fatty foods lead to the opening of a muscle separating the esophagus and stomach, allowing acid from the stomach to travel upward. What’s more, milk that’s higher in fat stays in the stomach longer, creating more opportunities for acid reflux to occur.