I've been a Vegan for 2 months. I was struck with constant Acid Reflux, and now I can't eat normal. Help!

Question

I can't eat tomatoes, onion, garlic, fried foods like I used to because instantly I get bad acid reflux. I used to drink socially and I can't even have a a few sips of wine or my acid reflux starts acting up. I like the benefits of being a Vegan, but I can' even eat what I like or drink alcohol socially. I want to go back to what I was before, but my body is rejecting everything. I need help! I'm depressed because of this. What did I do wrong? I limited my diet and changed it but now I"m just eating like a rabbit, with some carbs. I can't even eat a handful of grapes without having an episode. I'm 24 years old.

Answer 1

The human body was designed to eat meat and vegetables. Too much of one and not enough of the other is not healthy.

Most of us eat far too much meat. But you need some meat to be healthy.

Answer 2

Go to the doctor, they will definitely be able to help. This may or may not be due to your diet. In some people (like me), the muscle that is supposed to hold everything in your stomach becomes weak, which causes acid reflux all the time (no matter what you eat or don't eat). In this case, it is irreversible and medical attention is required to fix it. In some extreme cases, people have to have surgery to correct it (if mine gets any worse I might have to).

However, there are some general rules to follow that will definitely reduce it. Garlic can be a trigger, but since you said you don't eat it then you won't have a problem with that. Avoid carbonated and/or caffinated drinks. Don't lay down for a few hours after you eat. Alcohol can definitely trigger it, as you have found out. Acidic foods will obviously make it worse.

Seriously, see a doctor. They will be able to prescribe medication that will help you remedy the acid reflux. If you need immediate relief, take an OTC heartburn relief or take a huge swig of water.

BTW, not eating enough can aggrevate your stomach and cause acid reflux as well.

Edit to Sunshine Girl, acid reflux is not ALWAYS caused by what you are eating. Sometimes it is caused by circumstances beyond your control.

Do some research, and follow a diet that will reduce or eliminate your acid reflux as much as possible. If that doesn't work, you should see a doctor as they will have to FIX, not MASK the problem.

If changing your diet does not work, it is very important that you see a doctor as prolonged acid reflux can erode your esophagus and may cause esophagal cancer (if it goes on for a long time).

Answer 3

When I became a vegetarian, I fell off the wagon a couple of times in the first month. I ate some tuna salad and some chicken breast. Both made me sick. Another thing happened as well--I became lactose intolerant! My theory on this is that humans were meant to be vegans. Our canines are not long or particularly sharp. More suitable for biting into a mango than tearing meat off a bone. Also, our other teeth are more suitable for an herbivore than carnivore.

About the acid reflux--I strongly suggest you see your doc. But until then, I would take an over-the-counter acid reflux medication.

Finally, I don't know your lifestyle, but if I stop exercising, I get acid reflux. When I start exercising regularly (every day) again, it only takes a couple of weeks for the acid reflux to stop. Hope you feel better soon.

Answer 4

Have you thought about going to the doctor to get on prescription acid reflux medication? Have you thought about loosening your diet restrictions- maybe a vegetarian vs a vegan? I've been a vegetarian for 13yrs, and have had a few episodes with acid reflux and milk seems to help a lot, but if you're a vegan, that isn't an option. Another thing that I didn't even consider- I thought I was having horrible acid reflux problems- my throat would burn, etc- but it turned out it was food allergies- and my throat was actually closing.. I'd ask a doctor or look at least look at webmd or other sites online..

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Oh dear! Ok, the lady 'cookies and corn' answer above is right, I have been vegetarian since I was 9 years old and I did it gradually finally stopping fish at age 17 and now I very limit any dairy. I'm 34!
Easy does it with your body honey! Your body is not happy right now and needs to be fixed!
Going to a doctor and taking medication wont fix whats going on just mask the symptoms but stay in touch with your doctor as this could progress if you dont take steps to fix it.
Your body needs to come back to alkaline, your ph balance is off.
I had this about 8 years ago suddenly and briefly and what I did was I drank milk and I 'calmed down' my diet I ate just gentle foods for a few weeks and no alcohol and it has never returned in any shape or form. Gentle foods are not the ones you listed above!!!
You can heal this yourself. If you want to drink alcohol try baileys irish cream or guinness or ale (newcastle brown?) wine is out for a while!
The foods you can eat is a far longer list than the foods you cant right now...research it a bit..
'Cookies and Corn' answer would cost you about $100 from a Naturopath! I advise you to follow what she said.

Answer 7

Chronic heartburn is usually from acid reflux - stomach acid is getting past the little valve and into your esophagus. You also should know some natural ways to treat your heartburn. Learn them here https://bitly.im/aMAyw

The most immediate thing you can do is to stop drinking coffee and cola. Smoking is not good either, but that might be harder to stop. Don't over-eat. Don't lie down too soon after eating. Don't burp too much - this carries acid up with the burp.

heartburn the most common symptom of acid reflux disease (also known as gastroespohageal reflux disease, or GERD). Heartburn feels like a burning pain in the center of the chest. It is caused by acid from the stomach backing up into the esophagus. is a symptom of acid reflux disease (GERD) Also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Answer 8

You really do need to go to your doctor about this.

I have mild reflux, but as long as I stay seated upright for at least 45 minutes after eating and don't go to bed less than three hours after eating, I'm fine. I also eat soy yogurt several times a week. It soothes the stomach and helps the good bacteria in your gut. Chewing gum also helps.

Stress can also cause reflux. If you're in a stressful job or situation, you need to do something to mitigate that.

Answer 9

Hm, could be all kinds of reasons. We cannot determine why without looking at your entire lifestyle.

You probably have a high acid forming food diet of some kind, then when you go and eat something very high in acid all at one meal or at one time, that's more than your body can handle.

Think of it this way, when a smoker quits, what happens? Do they instantly feel better? No, they feel horrible, they start to cough up black gunk, their body has always been fighting against it, but finally sees it change to purge.

So, try to balance your diet out between acid and alkaline. You should be eating more alkaline producing foods and less acid. Cut out the processed foods, eat more raw fruits and veggies. It could simply be that you are mixing food improperly, such as another person on this forum mixing O.J. with tofu, and cereal, and pickles, and bread,... all sorts of stuff...

There are lots of books in your library that will tell you which foods are acid or alkaline producing, check them out and read them as a start.

Answer 10

Chronic heartburn is usually from acid reflux - stomach acid is getting past the little valve and into your esophagus. You also should know some natural ways to treat your heartburn. Learn them here https://tr.im/acidrefluxremedies

The most immediate thing you can do is to stop drinking coffee and cola. Smoking is not good either, but that might be harder to stop. Don't over-eat. Don't lie down too soon after eating. Don't burp too much - this carries acid up with the burp.

heartburn the most common symptom of acid reflux disease (also known as gastroespohageal reflux disease, or GERD). Heartburn feels like a burning pain in the center of the chest. It is caused by acid from the stomach backing up into the esophagus. is a symptom of acid reflux disease (GERD) Also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Answer 11

What is it that you like? I'm vegan and eat out all the time...


BEING VEGAN ISN'T ABOUT "LIMITING YOUR DIET"! It's about cutting out nasty and unhealthy products from inhumane industries and replacing them with healthier, plant-based alternatives!!


I honestly don't know what you could have done, except maybe you thought being vegan meant eating lettuce and nothing else. Alcohol is never good for you.