There are many alternatives to milk these days. From plant-based to ones from animals other than cows, there's something suitable for everyone's diet, regardless of your dietary requirements. But, if you're following a low-acid diet, you have to be sure to choose the kind of milk that doesn't aggravate your acid reflux and GERD symptoms.
This is important since some kinds of milk are acid-forming while others, alkaline-forming. For example, is lactose-free milk acidic?
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Is Lactose-Free Milk Acidic?
Lactose-free milk has acid-forming properties, which means that it may aggravate the symptoms of your acid reflux and GERD. Because of that, it might be a good idea to limit how much lactose-free milk you consume. On the bright side, it's less acidic than some other types of milk, particularly the ones high in lactose, so it might be easier on your stomach.
Lactose-free milk also provides you with many minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that help you stay healthy, so it might be a great addition to your diet.
What is the pH level of lactose-free milk?
Lactose-free milk has a pH level ranging between 6.00-7.00. While it seems as if it's high, lactose-free milk has acid-forming properties. Because of that, it might cause excess stomach acid production, which can then reflux up your esophagus, causing heartburn and other uncomfortable symptoms.
On the other hand, drinking other kinds of milk, particularly if you're lactose intolerant, might cause serious digestive system issues, so consuming lactose-free milk might be a better option.
Is lactose-free milk healthy?
Lactose-free milk has many health benefits that might help you stay healthy and avoid more severe flare-ups of acid reflux and GERD. Firstly, one cup contains approximately 124 calories, which means that it won't stay in your stomach too long and lead to gastric acid rising up your esophagus.
On top of that, it doesn't contain too much fat, which tends to cause indigestion and increased stomach acid production. As a result, it's a better milk choice than other fat-rich drinks.
Lactose-free milk is still a wonderful source of calcium. This mineral helps keep your bones healthy and contributes to a strong immune system. Calcium also helps your heart, muscles, and nerves function properly and conduct healthy impulses from your brain.
What's more, this essential mineral, along with vitamin D, helps protect you from serious conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Because of that, it's a great idea to consume a lot of this mineral with every meal.
A single glass of lactose-free milk contains a good amount of potassium. This mineral works with sodium to help balance the electrolyte levels in your body, keeping it hydrated. It also helps muscle contractions, nerve signals and reduces blood pressure and water retention.
While increased amounts of potassium in your diets are a bad idea, it's still an essential mineral that's required for optimal health and well-being.
This type of milk also provides you with a lot of vitamin A. This micronutrient is responsible for protecting your eyes, supporting a healthy immune system, and reducing the risk of acne.
What's more, this vitamin may lower the risk of certain types of cancer, including cervical, lung, bladder, and lung cancer. Studies show that this benefit comes from the fact that vitamin A helps with beta-carotene absorption, which works as a powerful antioxidant.
Many types of lactose-free milk are enriched with vitamin D. This micronutrient helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in your body, which are the nutrients essential for ensuring that your bones, teeth, and muscles remain healthy.
The lack of vitamin D may lead to several severe bone conditions that may cause pain and inflammation. It's also a fat-soluble vitamin, so your body can store it for longer periods, making lactose-free milk and other types of milk a wonderful source of this micronutrient.
Is lactose-free milk bad for acid reflux?
Lactose-free milk is acid-forming, which means that it might lead to bad acid reflux and GERD symptoms. It's also high in sugars to compensate for the lack of lactose, so it can stay in your stomach for a long time, leading to excess stomach acid production. It can then reflux up your esophagus and give you unpleasant symptoms, so yes, it can be bad.
Because of that, if you're particularly sensitive to acidic foods, it might be best to limit how much lactose-free milk you consume.
On the other hand, just as the name suggests, lactose-free milk doesn't contain lactose. Because of that, it's a great alternative for people with lactose intolerance. Consuming lactose when you're allergic or intolerant to it can lead to more severe stomach issues, including acid reflux and GERD.
As a result, if you enjoy an occasional glass of milk and a bowl of cereal, lactose-free milk might be your best choice.
What type of milk is better for acid reflux than lactose-free milk?
Even though it doesn't contain lactose, lactose-free milk is still acid-forming. Since it can increase stomach acid production and lead to heartburn, limiting how often and how much you consume is best.
There are many alternatives, including coconut milk and almond milk that are better for acid reflux than lactose-free milk. Both of these milk types have alkaline-forming properties, which means that they help neutralize your stomach acids and decrease the severity of your acid reflux and GERD symptoms.
These kinds of milk are also rich in vitamins and nutrients that help you stay healthy, which makes them an even better addition to any diet. They're also good for vegans and vegetarians as they're made from plants. Because of that, they're not only an alkaline option but also a very nutrient-dense type of drink for everyone's diet.
Even though lactose-free milk doesn't contain lactose, it's still acid-forming. This means that it can lead to uncomfortable symptoms of acid reflux and GERD.
It's also high in sugar, which slows down digestion and may lead to type 2 diabetes, so it's important to limit your consumption of this drink as much as possible, particularly if you're susceptible to such issues.
Don't know what to drink? Check out these articles: 20 Most and Least Acidic Juices and 20+ Alcoholic Drinks Ranked by Acidity Level