Does drinking some alcoholic drinks cause you heartburn? If yes, then you’re not alone.
There are many people like you and they also experience heartburn and much more due to acid reflux.
Do you want a solution to this problem without saying goodbye to alcohol? Congratulations! You’re on the right page.
This article will cover acid reflux, its symptoms, and a few best less acidic drinks. We will also figure out which drinks you need to avoid.
It would be great fun. Let’s get started, then!
Acid Reflux – What is It?
Do you know what acid reflux is? Well!
Sometimes after eating a meal or drinking some alcohol, tea, or coffee, you feel a burning sensation in your esophagus. Yes, you got it right!
It’s acid reflux.
If you need to learn about the esophagus, let’s explain it. It’s a long muscular tube with a mouth on one end and a stomach on the other.
Our stomach naturally has an acid (hydrochloric acid). It helps in food digestion.
Consuming certain foods like alcohol increases the acidity of the stomach. As a result, it causes the content to regurgitate in the esophagus leading to acid reflux.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Acid Reflux?
If you haven’t experienced acid reflux, it’s great! But you must know its symptoms.
Acid reflux causes the following problems:
- The feeling of food being stuck in the throat
- Regurgitation of consumed food
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in your chest
- Severe heartburn
- Nausea
5 Best Alcoholic Beverages for Acid Reflux That No One Will Tell You About
If you are an alcohol lover, we’re sure you have acid reflux problems. You want its solution but also don’t want to leave alcohol. Right?
No worries! Here’s a list of low-pH alcoholic beverages for acid reflux. Give it a read, and don’t forget to thank us later!
1. Gin
Do you know which alcoholic drink is the least acidic? Yes, yes, your guess is on point.
Gin has a pH of around 7.4, which makes it the least acidic drink. You might be thinking, what is gin?
Gin is an alcoholic beverage prepared from grains like rice, rye, wheat, corn, and barley.
Do you know the best part about the drink? It contains botanicals.
Don’t think too much! Let’s tell you what botanicals are!
Botanicals are herbs, spices, flowers, and roots used to make gin. Distilleries use them in the initial distillation of spirit.
The best practice for having gin is to drink it with your meals. But if you want to drink before having meals, we recommend you to have it with water.
Bonus Tip
- Never drink gin with citrus, as it causes severe acid refluxes.
2. Non-grain Vodkas
Vodkas are prepared mainly from barley, rye, wheat, etc. The drawback is that they cause heartburn.
But don’t worry, guys! Non-grain vodkas are your life savers.
They are prepared using fruits and vegetables instead of traditional grains. It makes them less acidic.
If you are looking for non-grain vodkas, go for the ones prepared with French grapes, sweet beet, or gluten-free corn.
3. Rum
Next on the list of the 5 best alcoholic beverages for acid flux is rum. It’s made by fermenting and distilling molasses or sugarcane juice.
Do you know there are 3 kinds of rum?
- White rum
- Dark rum
- Gold rum
Gold rum is the least acidic among all the types. But you know what? You can’t consume it with moderate meals. The reason? Because when done so, it causes acid reflux.
It’s better you avoid it with heavy meals or else go with white or dark rum.
4. Tequila
Tequila is a beverage produced from a Mexican plant, Agave. It’s quite famous in Mexico as it originated there.
Unlike many other drinks, it has high sugar content. The best part about it is that high sugar content to help counter acidity.
When to have tequila? It’s best to have tequila after a heavy meal.
And one more thing to remember is that you should not mix it with anything acidic, for instance, citrus. Why?
Because citrus is responsible for reflux.
5. Barley Malt Lager Beers
Want to enjoy beer without getting acid refluxes? Go for barley malt lager beers.
Made from barley malt, they are the least acidic beers and are dark in color. Besides, they also have a low-calorie count.
Alcoholic Drinks You Must Avoid If You Have Acid Reflux Issues
Many people don’t experience acid reflux at a younger age, but as they grow old, it becomes a serious issue. That’s why there are some drinks you must stop drinking if you feel slight heartburn after having them.
Here’s the list. Read it out!
- Avoid drinking too much wine.
- Brandy is also too alcoholic.
- Citrus drinks are also not for you.
What Makes Your Acid Reflux Act Up More: Beer or Wine?
As you already know, both drinks are alcoholic. But wine causes more acid reflux.
It is more acidic and contains congeners. They are naturally occurring compounds that cause stomach irritability.
Therefore, go for gin or other less acidic beverages instead of wine.
Which Alcohol is Best for Acid Reflux?
As stated earlier, the best alcoholic drink for acid reflux is the least acidic one. Gin, non-grain vodkas, and tequila are some of the best options.
What Alcohol Can You Drink with GERD?
GERD stands for Gastroesophageal reflux disease. It’s a condition where your stomach acid repeatedly regurgitates in the esophagus.
Resultantly, you experience frequent heartburn. The best drinks for such patients are gin, tequilas, and non-grain vodkas.
The Bottom Line
Acid reflux is a medical condition where stomach acid often washes the esophagus. It causes heartburn and chest pain.
When you drink acidic alcoholic beverages, the condition gets even worse. Therefore, you must switch to the less acidic alcohols mentioned above.
