An Overview of the Hiatal Hernia Diet
There are many facets to nutrition. Your diet is personal. It speaks volumes about what you enjoy eating, what foods work well for you, and what foods work well for your family. Therefore, the approach of recommending meal plans or nutrition support should always be based on the individual and his or her needs.
Although typical nutrition topics, such as weight loss, diabetes, and heart-healthy diets are extremely important, very rarely are other special needs diets addressed.
One particularly overlooked diet (than can be beneficial for a variety of conditions) is the Hiatal Hernia Diet that focuses on eliminating foods that exacerbate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a typical disorder that goes along with the primary root cause. A hiatal hernia is an abnormality in the normal anatomy of the diaphragm and stomach, part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and up into the chest. In a normal setting the esophagus would pass down through the chest, cross the diaphragm, and enter the abdomen through a hole in the diaphragm known as the esophageal hiatus.
The esophagus joins the stomach right below the diaphragm. In individuals with hiatal hernias, the opening of the esophageal hiatus is larger; therefore, the upper stomach pushes (herniates) through the hiatus and into the chest. Some common symptoms of a hiatal hernia include: dehydration, dysphagia, aspiration, heartburn, belching, nausea, and vomiting.
Part of the nutrition therapy for individuals with hiatal hernias is to adopt a healthy lifestyle including:
- Achieving a healthy weight
- Quitting cigarette smoking
- Eating foods that are nutrient-dense and appropriate for your diet
- Exercising at least 30 minutes a day
- Waiting 3 hours before lying down after eating
- Eat smaller meals throughout the day
- Eat in a calm, relaxed place and sit down while you eat
In addition, your diet will play a major role in feeling better and managing your hiatal hernia. Foods not recommended for GERD include:
- Peppermint and spearmint
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Caffeinated beverages (regular tea, coffee, colas, energy drinks, other caffeinated soft drinks)
- Spicy foods
- High-fat foods including:
- Reduced-fat milk, whole milk, high-fat cheeses, high-fat yogurt
- Fried meats, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, etc.
- Other fried foods: doughnuts, French fries, deep-fried vegetables
- Pastries and other high-fat desserts
- High acidic foods such as oranges, lemons, and, tomatoes, and grapefruit
- Avoid Alcohol
Your dietary goal should include establishing a diet that avoids foods mentioned above, in addition to incorporating foods that primarily consist of:
- Lean meats and fish, such as turkey, chicken, salmon, etc.
- Protein-rich foods such as eggs, legumes, etc.
- Whole grains appropriate for your diet (if you are gluten-free, substitute with grains appropriate for your diet)
- Variety of vegetables and fruits
- Healthy fats such as olive oil, avocados, walnuts, ghee, coconut oil
- Beverages such as caffeine-free herbal teas (except those made with peppermint or spearmint), kombucha, etc.
Some helpful acid-neutralizing herbs as well as herbs that support the integrity of the stomach/esophagus include licorice root, slippery elm, goldenseal and marshmallow root. Additionally, aloe vera juice has been shown to have a soothing effect on the lining of the esophagus/stomach and also aids in the reduction of stomach acid.
Remember, your diet should always reflect how certain foods make you feel, so pay close attention to the foods that work well for you. Document the foods you eat in a food journal, listing the foods you eat, the amount you eat, and the immediate effects.
***Speak with a healthcare professional before beginning any new diet regimen or supplement.***
By: Juanita Escamilla, MS, Dietetic Intern
What about bread? Grain bread? granola bars? Cereals?
Can I eat cereal such as cherioes, apple jacks, lucky charms? Have to have some type of grain. I am very picky eater and having trouble since had hiatal hernia operation 2 years ago.
I have a haitus hernia and is also glucose intolerant so what does that leave to eat healthy, basically nothing witch is made of cows milk or has any sugars in, how do I go about a healthy diet??
I’m constantly feeling uncomfortable and have lost about 3kg’s in a week?
Hi there! We would recommend speaking with one of our wellness practitioners who can better assist you. Please call our Wellness Center at 512-219-8600 for consultations, professional advice, and information on a variety of supplements that may help!
Hi I have a hernia n suffer a lot with nausea,headaches,bloated,colds in my head,dizzy,what can I take to feel better.
It amazes me that my GI specialist knows so little about diet & treatment for HH. I’m at a loss as to what to eat after reviewing your list. I have been self-treating: frequent sm. feedings, sitting up while eating and for at least an hour afterward, etc. The pain is excruciating when I do have an “attack”: chest pain all the way through to my back going up into my right jaw. My MD wanted to send me to my cardiologist but I’ve had a recent visit with him. I do not believe it is heart because of the other symptoms I’ve had: dysphagia, loss of weight, fatigue, etc. Help! A food list would help someone like me to select from.
Yes – the medical community in general tends to lean heavily on surgery, but it’s an option of last resort. My honest suggestion would be to talk with Dr. Victor Carsrud, who works frequently with clients with HH and can do in-office adjustments for it, teach you at-home techniques to use and also suggest some supplements that may be helpful. He can be reached at Peoples Wellness Center North or at the South Lamar location. To schedule an appointment call 512.219.8600.
Have you been checked for gall stones? Some of the symptoms you describe sound like gall bladder inflammation.
with hiatal hernia shall I be able to eat any of these:
basil, oregano, turmeric, cinnamon, curry, sesame, cardamom, parsley, cilantro
and how about decaffeinated coffee and tea?
thanks
Anne
The doctors are treating me for Hiatal Hernia and Ulcers, not knowing yet what is going on. Sour stomach which leads to diarrhea and or loose stool.
No coffee/, tea, citrus, milk/dairy products, no tomatoes, pork, and I can’t eat eggs, etiher. Before I went to the doctor, the only thing I could eat was Cheetos and drink water. And not my local water, either because it burned all the way down. SO I buy bottled/jugged spring water.
For one week I drank water and ate only Cheetos. I lost 10 pounds. Which is good, because I am considered morbidly obese.
Can you have strawberries, blackberries other berries, grapes and pineapple? Can you use like use I/2 tsp. tom sauce spread on a vegetable with knife for flavoring? Also fat free salad dressings and vinegar and peaches?
Are these items permitted on a hiatal hernia diet? Mine is large and in chest. Trying to avoid surgery, I’m 74.
Hi Donna,
Usually the more acidic a food is, the worse it is for a hiatal hernia. For most people, berries and grapes don’t cause heartburn symptoms but something like pineapple could. If it doesn’t cause symptoms for you, it might be just fine – and likewise foods that do fine for other people might not be the best for you, so at the end of the day, follow your symptoms as much as possible. 1/2 tsp tomato sauce is a small amount so again, if it is enough to cause you heartburn then don’t do it, but if your body is alright with that amount then it’s fine for you. The salad dressings should be fine unless they’re very vinegary, and the peaches should be fine. Vinegar is strongly acidic and has a higher chance of triggering the heartburn. Again – your body knows best and some people have strong reactions to foods that wouldn’t bother other people so if you feel uncomfortable after a particular dish then trust your body and avoid whatever it was that caused the discomfort.
I suffering with hital hernia and it’s getting the best of me. Do anyone know I good doctor in Houston, TX?
I haven’t been to a GI doctor yet but I think my symtoms are that of my hiatal hernia. I am bloated and I have pain under my right breast about my ribcage. When I lay on my right side the pain goes away. I have been constipated and the pushing seems to make the pain come back. This not all the time just when I get constipated. I I think king correctly about a hernia?
Thank you for for providing so much information because I also have diverticulitious which recommends high fiber and lots of cabbagey vinegar type foods my body is in constant turmoil mine is the esphagual hiatle hernia and is compounded by ulcers in the esophagus and radiation that has affected my stomach. This site has helped immensely
I have been diagnosed with a “small sliding HH” and my stomach is in transverse position, which even more pressures the diaphragm upper chest. Since I am cardio healthy I know that the pain in the upper chest/diaphragm area is caused is not heart related at least.
I sleep on a few pillows, try to keep my body elevated at least 30 degrees, and my diet is the one described in this page, regardless that I rearly have acid reflux and intolerance to tomatoes, lemon, citrus. But my heavy stomach, blowing and stomach gas cause my periodical stomach crisis, not acid reflux. Try to walk after meal as possible on the top of other recommendations.
I’d appreciate sharing experiences with other HH (not GERD) diagnosed fellows.
Since being diagnosed with a large hiatus hernia I have lost a stone in weight due to changing what I eat. plus I am on 1 tablet a day .
However this is not the problem as much the discomfort when lying in bed at night and where I was able to lie on my left side I find this now unbearable plus during the day at the top of my ribcage on my left side it also seems to be affecting my right-side. I am finding I have to stretch my arms above my head to get any relief is this normal?
Hello, I have Hiatal Hernia and GERD. At the same time soft tissues inside my mouth, especially around the lips swell time after time on a daily basis. I am taking PPI and acid reducing medicines, but mouth swell again and again. I do not know what to do.
I would agree with this article Lean Turkey Salmon Boneless Chicken on the grill, avocado, certain fruits vegetables drinking water regualrly. I am not overly over weight but by doing this I have lost 17 pounds not starving myself just learning how to have a life syle change with exercise and proper diet. Thank you for the article
my hiatal hernia dose not give me heart burn .There are foods I don’t eat since my gallbladder was taken out 40 years ago .Now all of a sudden this happens I find it very to breath .Thought something with my lungs had x-ray lungs are clear but showed large hiatal hernia. Can’t see doctor till July 12 he just has no openings.Don’t know what to do or what to eat .If I lose weight will this go away? Yes I am over weight but how do you lose weight when you can’t breath so walking ,riding a bike even doing sit up’s is hard cause I can’t get my breath.Just putting the grocery’s on the belt at the store dose me in. Yes I use electric cart at the store had total hip replacement two years ago and it’s been a up hill battle now this . What to do I’m 65 and not ready to give up yet.
Just diagnosed with hiatal hernia. I am 91 years old and in excellent health. Heart tests show no problem. I will be experimenting with diet. I appreciate the suggestions.
I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia over 10 years ago. It went away after a while but now it is back as of 5 days ago. I definately am obese but also have
been confined to bed for 3 years.I have forgotten what to stay away from but I
do recall sometimes eating baby food. I was surprised to see bananas included
as they used to be a no-no. Needless to say, not being able to sit up as often as
I should is a negative. I do know that for me…Mylanta Extra Strength has helped.
I too have a hiatal hernia and maybe an ulcer. But I get very anxious when this horrible pain shoots up my chest. Lately this has made my heart rate go way up and and my oxygen reading goes down to 93%, Can the hernia block a persons oxygen intake? Possibly the pain make ones heart rate go up?
A year ago, I did a regime of pepsin with HCI and eventually all this was healed, But it has recently acted up again and I’m not big on taking the proton inhibitors , but also don’t desire a bleeding ulcer or worse.
Can these hernias lead to Barrett’s Esophogus? I really appreciate your detailed info on the foods too avoid, I am gluten free and rarely eat any of the bad foods, so for me I suspect it’s my bad addiction to my Love of Coffee! This shall be a challenge, any substitute suggestions! Thanks for this forum
thanks for this article it was very useful.
I’ve read that balsamic vinegar is good for HH and a Tablespoon first thing in the morning can help. I’m trying to do everything right to be healthy, but there are conflicting thoughts and I do not want to try things that will due any harm. Thank you!
I have a hiatal hernia and I’m guleten free I’m struggling with my diet finding it very hard to lose weight do u have any advice I’m 54 and 5ft and weight 11 stone