Does Milk Help Acid Reflux?

Milk coats the stomach, and can alleviate heartburn and acid reflux. Skim milk or 2% milk are preferable over whole milk as the high fat content in whole milk increases the likelihood of acid reflux and your symptoms worsening.

Stomach acid helps break down the food you eat along with enzymes. The body releases this acid when you eat by opening a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). What causes acid reflux?

Acid reflux occurs when the LES doesn’t close completely or opens up too often. As the acid continues to flow into the stomach, it eventually moves into the esophagus and leads to common acid reflux symptoms, such as heartburn. 

Multiple things cause reflux to occur, including: 

• Weight 
• Diet 
• Lifestyle 
• Hiatal hernia 
• Fatty or large meals 

Consuming certain foods and drinks, such as milk, may help. 

Does milk help or worsen acid reflux?

Dairy was the focus of numerous studies on acid reflux and GERD. Intolerances and side effects can occur with milk that increase stomach acid and can lead to significant additional symptoms.

Lactose is often enough to ease symptoms, but if you’re lactose intolerant, milk may cause more stomach-related issues. 

There's also a concern that whole milk can cause more acid production if too much is consumed. Try moderate levels of milk to see if it creates the “buffer” that a lot of people experience that offers symptom relief. 

If you’re not experiencing any relief, you can try a few substitutes to see if they work better for you. 

Are milk substitutes more effective?

If dairy bothers you, it may be a good time to try an alternative. A go-to option is 2% milk because it contains lower levels of fat. A few alternatives and substitutes to try that may be more effective for you are: 

• Low-fat milk 
• Skim milk 
• Almond milk 
• Soy milk 
• Coconut milk 
• Flax milk 

Almond milk is a good choice because the composition of the milk is alkaline, which is shown to neutralize stomach acid. Soy, which does have a different flavor, has less fat than cow’s milk, so it’s a good alternative to try. It's important to try and find what works best for you – it's different for everyone. 

Other drinks and foods to treat your acid reflux

Milk may or may not help relieve your symptoms, but there are other options that can help. A few of the foods and drinks that you can try to treat your acid reflux are: 

• Ginger tea 
• Herbal tea 
• Fruit juice (non-acidic) 
• Aloe vera juice 
• Smoothies 
• Coconut water 
• Leafy greens 
• Lean meat 
• Non-citric fruits 
• Oatmeal 

Controlling your diet is one of the best methods to acid reflux control. If you’re not experiencing symptom relief, there are other medical options available. 

Why Omeprazole (Generic Prilosec) is your best treatment option for acid reflux

With moderate to severe cases of acid reflux, making simple lifestyle and dietary changes may not be enough to curb your symptoms. The good news? Prescription drug Omeprazole has been proven to be incredibly effective treatment, alleviating all symptoms!

Take control of your treatment by speaking with one of our online doctors today. They can help you discuss your best course of action, including prescription medication Omeprazole.

The best part? Omeprazole works the same as brand name acid reflux medications—at a fraction of the cost! It works by reducing stomach acid, effectively preventing recurring episodes of acid reflux. Plus, most adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, can safely take Omeprazole.

Schedule a virtual doctor’s appointment, today.

Get help for your acid reflux, today!

Acid reflux is incredibly bothersome & inconvenient. While diet & lifestyle changes may help, your best option to treat acid reflux is to speak with a doctor.

Schedule a virtual visit with one of EMD's reputable doctors & get a personalized treatment plan that works.

Stop living with acid reflux. Get help, today!