A hiatal hernia reaches a component of your abdomen that extends or passes through a small opening (hiatus) in your diaphragm. The diaphragm is a parachute-shaped muscle that runs along your ribcage, below your lungs, and helps you inhale and exhale. Your feeding tube passes through the muscle to attach to your abdomen.
The main symptom of a hiatal hernia is acid reflux, which occurs when acid and other contents from the abdomen move up into the feeding tube. You may experience, among other things, heartburn (a burning sensation in the chest), sore throat, belching, and epigastric pain.
Chronic acid reflux disease can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
What you eat can either relieve or worsen those symptoms. In fact, nutritional changes and other lifestyle changes are the first line of remedy for acid reflux, GERD, and hiatal hernias.
Learn more about heartburn relief.
Diets for hiatal hernia are similar to those recommended for GERD. The first step is to identify the causes (foods that make symptoms worse) and then avoid those foods. Not everyone has the same causative foods, so it can be helpful to pay close attention. Pay attention to the relationship between what you eat and your symptoms.
Foods for GERD and hiatal hernias may include:
Drinks to include:
Learn more about the cause of heartburn.
In general, it is necessary to incorporate foods that reduce inflammation, neutralize stomach acid, and prevent tissue irritation. If you have severe symptoms, you may need to follow a liquid diet until you find relief.
Foods that may relieve symptoms of GERD and hiatal hernia may include:
Try to opt for fresh, total foods as much as you can imagine instead of processed foods.
Learn more about herbs and for acid reflux.
The way you cook and eat your food can make all the difference. For example, sweet potato fries can cause heartburn, while baked or boiled sweet potatoes can relieve them.
In addition, eating too much food at once or too quickly can also worsen the symptoms of hiatal hernia and acid reflux.
To lessen the threat of acid reflux, these tips:
Other methods to save you and manage the symptoms of GERD, acid reflux, and hiatal hernia would possibly include:
Diet can have a hiatal hernia-like effect on the frequency and severity of acid reflux symptoms. If you have a hiatal hernia, you may need to follow the nutritional protocols used to manage GERD.
If your symptoms persist, you may need to discuss them with a healthcare professional. Prescription and over-the-counter medications can find relief.
Last exam on May 10, 2024
Our experts frequently monitor the fitness and wellness space, and we update our articles when new data becomes available.
Current Version
May 10, 2024
Written by
Sandra Silva Casabianca Msc
Published by
Sandra Silva Casabianca Msc
Medically Tested By
Megan Soliman, MD
Copy edited by
Editors
August 31, 2023
Written by
Ashley Marcin
Published by
Mike Hoskins
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