Research presented in JAMA Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery suggests that a plant-based, Mediterranean-style diet can deliver the same relief for laryngopharyngeal reflux — commonly called heartburn — as widely used reflux drugs.
The authors’ plan centers on fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts, and calls for nearly eliminating dairy and meats — beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and pork included. In the past, we advised limiting tea, coffee, soda, chocolate, greasy and fried foods, spicy foods, fatty foods, and alcohol. Many study participants who switched to the plant-based diet also lost some weight and saw fewer symptoms and less medication use for other conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. With your health care provider’s approval, you might try a plant-based diet along with alkaline water and standard reflux precautions before resorting to medications. This approach challenges what we physicians have long believed. I’m Dr. Michael Hunter.
