Hiatal Hernia Diet: What to Eat to Help Manage Symptoms

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFoods to EatFoods to AvoidLifestyle ChangesWhen to Seek Care

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Foods to Eat

Foods to Avoid

Lifestyle Changes

When to Seek Care

Diet modification is one of the cornerstones of hiatal hernia treatment. By knowing which foods to eat and which to avoid, you can help minimize many of the gastrointestinal (GI)symptoms of ahiatal hernia, includingacid refluxandheartburn.

While there is no “hiatal hernia diet” per se, there are guidelines that help direct not only what you eat buthowyou eat. These dietary and lifestyle changes may be enough to minimize one of the more common complications of ahiatal hernia, known asgastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD).

Verywell

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)is one of the most common consequences of a hiatal hernia and often the condition that leads a person to seek medical treatment in the first place.

GERD is a chronic upper GI disease in which the contents of the stomach frequently backflow into theesophagus(feeding tube). This leads to symptoms such as acid reflux, heartburn, regurgitation, chronic cough,dysphagia(trouble swallowing), and chest pain.

The dietary recommendations for hiatal hernia tend to mirror those for GERD. These include eating foods that help reduce or dilute stomach acids.

Alkaline Foods

Alkaline foodsare those with apHof over 7.0. These foods help counter and neutralize stomach acids which have a pH under 7.0.

These include alkaline foods like:

Foods With High Water Content

High-Fiber Foods

High-fiber foods increasesatiety(a feeling of fullness). Early satiety helps prevent overeating and the overproduction of stomach acids needed to digest the food.

These include high-fiber foods such as:

Lean Proteins

Leanproteinsare needed to build lean muscle. Lean proteins also help normalizegut motilityand the movement of food through the digestive tract and are less likely to cause acid reflux than fatty animal proteins.

These include lean proteins like:

Probiotic Foods

Some studies suggest thatprobiotic foodsmay be beneficial to people with GERD. Probiotic foods arefermented foodsthat contain live bacteria and yeasts beneficial to the GI tract.

Probiotic foods rich inLactobacillus johnsoniiandBifidobacterium bifiduminclude:

1:26Click Play to Learn About Hiatal Hernia Diets

1:26

Click Play to Learn About Hiatal Hernia Diets

Knowing which foods to avoid if you have a hiatal hernia is as important as knowing which foods to eat. These include many of the “unhealthy” foods your provider would want you to avoid anyway (like fried foods and processed foods) but also some foods that are otherwise healthy and nutritious.

High-Fat Foods

These include high-fat foods such as:

Caffeinated Foods

These include highly caffeinated beverages and foods such as:

Other Foods

Other foods are commonly linked to GERD, some of which irritate the stomach and others of which have the same relaxing effect on the LES as caffeine.

According to a 2019 study inCurrent Medicinal Chemistry,these include food like:

A 2017 study inNeurogastroenterolgy and Motilitycreated a similar “hit list” of foods most commonly associated with GERD in people with hiatal hernia. According to the research, up to 37% experienced GERD after eating:

Foods to EatAlmondsAloe juiceArtichokesCarrot juiceCarrots and peasChicken and other lean protein sourcesFermented foods (such as sauerkraut)Green beansGreen leafy vegetables (such as spinach and kale​)Green tea (and herbal teas)High-fiber foods (such as whole grains, beans, legumes, and whole fruits and vegetables​)Fruits and juices that arenotconsidered citrus fruits, such as apples, pears, various melons, and berriesPlant-based milk, such as almond or oat milk​Sweet potatoesYogurtWhole grainsFoods to AvoidAlcoholic beveragesCarbonated beveragesChocolate, cocoaCitrus fruits, such as oranges and limes​CoffeeCondiments, such as ketchup or mustard​DoughnutsFatty/oily foodsFried foodsGarlicMint (including peppermint and other types of mint​)OnionsPrepackaged, highly processed foods​Salty foodsTomatoes and tomato-based foods (such as salsa, tomato sauce, and more​)

Foods to EatAlmondsAloe juiceArtichokesCarrot juiceCarrots and peasChicken and other lean protein sourcesFermented foods (such as sauerkraut)Green beansGreen leafy vegetables (such as spinach and kale​)Green tea (and herbal teas)High-fiber foods (such as whole grains, beans, legumes, and whole fruits and vegetables​)Fruits and juices that arenotconsidered citrus fruits, such as apples, pears, various melons, and berriesPlant-based milk, such as almond or oat milk​Sweet potatoesYogurtWhole grains

Almonds

Aloe juice

Artichokes

Carrot juice

Carrots and peas

Chicken and other lean protein sources

Fermented foods (such as sauerkraut)

Green beans

Green leafy vegetables (such as spinach and kale​)

Green tea (and herbal teas)

High-fiber foods (such as whole grains, beans, legumes, and whole fruits and vegetables​)

Fruits and juices that arenotconsidered citrus fruits, such as apples, pears, various melons, and berries

Plant-based milk, such as almond or oat milk​

Sweet potatoes

Yogurt

Whole grains

Foods to AvoidAlcoholic beveragesCarbonated beveragesChocolate, cocoaCitrus fruits, such as oranges and limes​CoffeeCondiments, such as ketchup or mustard​DoughnutsFatty/oily foodsFried foodsGarlicMint (including peppermint and other types of mint​)OnionsPrepackaged, highly processed foods​Salty foodsTomatoes and tomato-based foods (such as salsa, tomato sauce, and more​)

Alcoholic beverages

Carbonated beverages

Chocolate, cocoa

Citrus fruits, such as oranges and limes​

Coffee

Condiments, such as ketchup or mustard​

Doughnuts

Fatty/oily foods

Fried foods

Garlic

Mint (including peppermint and other types of mint​)

Onions

Prepackaged, highly processed foods​

Salty foods

Tomatoes and tomato-based foods (such as salsa, tomato sauce, and more​)

Recommended Lifestyle Changes

How you eat is as important as what you eat when you have a hiatal hernia. This includes the timing of meals and your mealtime habits.

Timing of Meals

Good eating habits are key to controlling symptoms of GERD. Some adjustments may also be needed to prevent overeating.

Consider these useful tips:

Cooking Tips

The way food is prepared can make a big difference if you are struggling with GERD symptoms:

Other Restrictions and Recommendations

Here are a few additional tips to keep in mind if you have a hiatal hernia and experience frequent bouts of acid reflux:

When to See a Healthcare Provider

People with hiatal hernias can often manage their symptoms with diet, lifestyle changes, and medications. However, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider if your GERD symptoms are severe, you find it increasingly difficult to swallow, or are experiencing persistent chest pain with coughing.

In severe cases, a hiatal hernia can become “pinched” in thediaphragm, cutting off blood flow to the stomach (strangulation). This is a medical emergency.

Call 911 or seek immediate emergency care if you have signs of hernial strangulation, including:

Summary

GERD is common with a hiatal hernia. By making dietary changes, you can help ease symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux. This includes the avoidance of acidic, caffeinated, and high-fat foods that stimulate stomach acid. Focus on eating whole foods, including vegetables, fruits, grains, and low-fat protein.

Also, try eating small meals, cooking with healthy oils, and avoiding eating right before bed.

17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sfara A, Dumitrascu DL.The management of hiatal hernia: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Med Pharm Rep. 2019 Oct 25;92(4):321–325. doi:10.15386/mpr-1323Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Department of Surgery.Hiatal hernia.John Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).Reuter-Sandquist M.Table 6.2 water content in foods. In:Nursing Assistant.Eau Claire (WI): Chippewa Valley Technical College; 2022.Morozov S, Isakov V, Konovalova MFiber-enriched diet helps to control symptoms and improves esophageal motility in patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease.World J Gastroenterol..2018 Jun 7;24(21):2291–2299. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i21.2291Herdiana Y.Functional food in relation to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Nutrients. 2023 Aug 15;15(16):3583, doi:10.3390/nu15163583De Jesús Rodríguez-Romero J, Durán-Castañeda AC Cárdenas-Castro AP, Sánchez-Burgos JP, ,Zamora-Gasga VM, Sáyago-Ayerdi SG.What we know about protein gut metabolites: implications and insights for human health and diseases.Food Chem X. 2021 Dec 22;13:100195. doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2021.100195Herdiana Y.Functional food in relation to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Nutrients. 2023 Aug 15;15(16):3583. doi:10.3390/nu15163583Harvard Health.High-protein foods: the best protein sources to include in a healthy diet.Cheng J, Ouwehand AC.Gastroesophageal reflux disease and probiotics: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2020 Jan 2;12(1):132. doi:10.3390/nu12010132Office of Dietary Supplements.Probiotics: fact sheet for health professionals.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research. GI Society.Diet and gastroesophageal reflux disease.Kim K, Oh SW, Muhng H, et al.Association between coffee intake and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a meta-analysis.Dis Esophagus.2014;27(4):311-317. doi:10.1111/dote.12099Surdea-Blaga T, Negrutiu DE, Palage M, Dumitrascu DL.Food and gastroesophageal reflux disease.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3497–511. doi:10.2174/0929867324666170515123807Choe JW, Joo MK, Kim HJ, et al.Foods inducing typical gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms in Korea. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017;23(3):363-369. doi:10.5056/jnm16122Icahn School at Cedar Sinai.Hiatal hernia.National Health Service (UK).Hiatus hernia.

17 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sfara A, Dumitrascu DL.The management of hiatal hernia: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Med Pharm Rep. 2019 Oct 25;92(4):321–325. doi:10.15386/mpr-1323Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Department of Surgery.Hiatal hernia.John Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).Reuter-Sandquist M.Table 6.2 water content in foods. In:Nursing Assistant.Eau Claire (WI): Chippewa Valley Technical College; 2022.Morozov S, Isakov V, Konovalova MFiber-enriched diet helps to control symptoms and improves esophageal motility in patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease.World J Gastroenterol..2018 Jun 7;24(21):2291–2299. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i21.2291Herdiana Y.Functional food in relation to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Nutrients. 2023 Aug 15;15(16):3583, doi:10.3390/nu15163583De Jesús Rodríguez-Romero J, Durán-Castañeda AC Cárdenas-Castro AP, Sánchez-Burgos JP, ,Zamora-Gasga VM, Sáyago-Ayerdi SG.What we know about protein gut metabolites: implications and insights for human health and diseases.Food Chem X. 2021 Dec 22;13:100195. doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2021.100195Herdiana Y.Functional food in relation to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Nutrients. 2023 Aug 15;15(16):3583. doi:10.3390/nu15163583Harvard Health.High-protein foods: the best protein sources to include in a healthy diet.Cheng J, Ouwehand AC.Gastroesophageal reflux disease and probiotics: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2020 Jan 2;12(1):132. doi:10.3390/nu12010132Office of Dietary Supplements.Probiotics: fact sheet for health professionals.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research. GI Society.Diet and gastroesophageal reflux disease.Kim K, Oh SW, Muhng H, et al.Association between coffee intake and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a meta-analysis.Dis Esophagus.2014;27(4):311-317. doi:10.1111/dote.12099Surdea-Blaga T, Negrutiu DE, Palage M, Dumitrascu DL.Food and gastroesophageal reflux disease.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3497–511. doi:10.2174/0929867324666170515123807Choe JW, Joo MK, Kim HJ, et al.Foods inducing typical gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms in Korea. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017;23(3):363-369. doi:10.5056/jnm16122Icahn School at Cedar Sinai.Hiatal hernia.National Health Service (UK).Hiatus hernia.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Sfara A, Dumitrascu DL.The management of hiatal hernia: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Med Pharm Rep. 2019 Oct 25;92(4):321–325. doi:10.15386/mpr-1323Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Department of Surgery.Hiatal hernia.John Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).Reuter-Sandquist M.Table 6.2 water content in foods. In:Nursing Assistant.Eau Claire (WI): Chippewa Valley Technical College; 2022.Morozov S, Isakov V, Konovalova MFiber-enriched diet helps to control symptoms and improves esophageal motility in patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease.World J Gastroenterol..2018 Jun 7;24(21):2291–2299. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i21.2291Herdiana Y.Functional food in relation to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Nutrients. 2023 Aug 15;15(16):3583, doi:10.3390/nu15163583De Jesús Rodríguez-Romero J, Durán-Castañeda AC Cárdenas-Castro AP, Sánchez-Burgos JP, ,Zamora-Gasga VM, Sáyago-Ayerdi SG.What we know about protein gut metabolites: implications and insights for human health and diseases.Food Chem X. 2021 Dec 22;13:100195. doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2021.100195Herdiana Y.Functional food in relation to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Nutrients. 2023 Aug 15;15(16):3583. doi:10.3390/nu15163583Harvard Health.High-protein foods: the best protein sources to include in a healthy diet.Cheng J, Ouwehand AC.Gastroesophageal reflux disease and probiotics: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2020 Jan 2;12(1):132. doi:10.3390/nu12010132Office of Dietary Supplements.Probiotics: fact sheet for health professionals.Canadian Society of Intestinal Research. GI Society.Diet and gastroesophageal reflux disease.Kim K, Oh SW, Muhng H, et al.Association between coffee intake and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a meta-analysis.Dis Esophagus.2014;27(4):311-317. doi:10.1111/dote.12099Surdea-Blaga T, Negrutiu DE, Palage M, Dumitrascu DL.Food and gastroesophageal reflux disease.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3497–511. doi:10.2174/0929867324666170515123807Choe JW, Joo MK, Kim HJ, et al.Foods inducing typical gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms in Korea. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017;23(3):363-369. doi:10.5056/jnm16122Icahn School at Cedar Sinai.Hiatal hernia.National Health Service (UK).Hiatus hernia.

Sfara A, Dumitrascu DL.The management of hiatal hernia: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Med Pharm Rep. 2019 Oct 25;92(4):321–325. doi:10.15386/mpr-1323

Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Department of Surgery.Hiatal hernia.

John Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).

Reuter-Sandquist M.Table 6.2 water content in foods. In:Nursing Assistant.Eau Claire (WI): Chippewa Valley Technical College; 2022.

Morozov S, Isakov V, Konovalova MFiber-enriched diet helps to control symptoms and improves esophageal motility in patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease.World J Gastroenterol..2018 Jun 7;24(21):2291–2299. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i21.2291

Herdiana Y.Functional food in relation to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Nutrients. 2023 Aug 15;15(16):3583, doi:10.3390/nu15163583

De Jesús Rodríguez-Romero J, Durán-Castañeda AC Cárdenas-Castro AP, Sánchez-Burgos JP, ,Zamora-Gasga VM, Sáyago-Ayerdi SG.What we know about protein gut metabolites: implications and insights for human health and diseases.Food Chem X. 2021 Dec 22;13:100195. doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2021.100195

Herdiana Y.Functional food in relation to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Nutrients. 2023 Aug 15;15(16):3583. doi:10.3390/nu15163583

Harvard Health.High-protein foods: the best protein sources to include in a healthy diet.

Cheng J, Ouwehand AC.Gastroesophageal reflux disease and probiotics: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2020 Jan 2;12(1):132. doi:10.3390/nu12010132

Office of Dietary Supplements.Probiotics: fact sheet for health professionals.

Canadian Society of Intestinal Research. GI Society.Diet and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Kim K, Oh SW, Muhng H, et al.Association between coffee intake and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a meta-analysis.Dis Esophagus.2014;27(4):311-317. doi:10.1111/dote.12099

Surdea-Blaga T, Negrutiu DE, Palage M, Dumitrascu DL.Food and gastroesophageal reflux disease.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3497–511. doi:10.2174/0929867324666170515123807

Choe JW, Joo MK, Kim HJ, et al.Foods inducing typical gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms in Korea. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017;23(3):363-369. doi:10.5056/jnm16122

Icahn School at Cedar Sinai.Hiatal hernia.

National Health Service (UK).Hiatus hernia.

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