Are Avocados Acidic, And Bad For Acid Reflux?

Avocados are a delicious treat that complements some of the spiciest and most delicious foods, especially Mexican and Latin American cuisine, with a smooth creaminess that cuts the heat of hot chiles. Avocados acidic are the perfect food for a balanced diet.

They’re a good source of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, they’re not always the best for people who suffer from acid reflux.

Although they’re mild in acidity, healthy, and full of fiber, they’re also very fatty and can release a hormone that makes acid reflux worse.

We’re used to adding avocado to make things neutral, cool, and smooth – but in the case of acid reflux, this could make your heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD worse.

This is especially true if you eat avocados in most of the ways we typically do – with guacamole, or as a condiment to offset the heat in spicy foods, like tacos.

Guacamole is made with (at least) 3 other ingredients that can make acid reflux worse – tomatoes, onions, and lime. When you mix all of these and then enjoy more than a serving for yourself, you’re practically asking for heartburn.

However, it’s not always that simple: avocado is extremely healthy, with lots of great benefits, and some people who suffer from acid reflux, heartburn, and GERD are able to eat avocados in small amounts.

Is avocado good for you? Is avocado acidic or alkaline? Can you eat avocados if you have acid reflux?

In this article, we’ll take a look at whether or not avocados might be a good choice for you with acid reflux.

Are Avocados Bad For Acid Reflux?

Avocados are technically mildly acidic. They have a pH of 6.27 to 6.58. Because they’re less than seven, which is the pH of water, they qualify as “acidic”. However, avocados are more alkaline than the majority of fruits.

Tomatoes, for example, are a 4 on the pH scale, while a lime can be as acidic as 2! Even some alkaline fruits like coconuts are actually more acidic than avocados.

Although avocados are technically acidic in substance, they have an alkalizing effect on your stomach pH.

They are full of nutrients that form alkaline compounds inside your stomach, neutralizing your pH and soothing the symptoms of acid reflux. 

Some people are sensitive to avocados and their symptoms are immediately triggered, while others can make avocados a semi-regular part of their diet.

If you eat avocados by themselves,  you may or may not have problems with your stomach.

Avocados are often mixed with other ingredients that cause decreased stomach pH (increased acidity) and could aggravate the symptoms of acid reflux, heartburn, and GERD – for example, tomatoes and onions in guacamole.

It’s easy to associate avocados with acid reflux, if only because they go together with so many other foods that aggravate symptoms.

Guacamole is one example, but avocado is also used to offset the spicy “heat” from capsaicin, the active ingredient that makes chile peppers hot.

Capsaicin itself is a major aggravator of acid reflux, so mixing avocados and spicy makes it hard to know which (or both) is causing the problem.

While technically they are more acidic than water, avocados aren’t acidic enough to make a difference in your stomach. They fall in the neutral range.

What makes them acidic is combining them with other acidic ingredients to create dishes that are acidic – like guacamole. 

If you suffer from acid reflux, you might be able to eat a raw avocado, but I can practically guarantee that guacamole or a spicy taco will push the meal over the edge and make it acidic, spicy, or both – and that’s not what you want with heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD.

Although avocados are incredibly healthy, and neutral in many ways, they are technically acidic and they are not ideal for people with stomach issues in general and acid reflux.

In particular, because of their fat content and the presence of a hormone that weakens the LES muscle.

Why Are Avocados Bad For Acid Reflux?

They can cause acid reflux for two reasons.

The first reason is that avocados are very fatty.

A single avocado can have up to 22 grams of fat. That might seem like a lot, but these fats are very healthy monounsaturated fats that won’t cause heart disease.

In fact, the healthy fats in avocados can contribute to weight loss and reduce your risk of cardiovascular problems. However, they do have the same effect on your stomach that a greasy burger might.

Fatty foods can aggravate acid reflux. 

The additional fat in avocados causes your stomach to take longer to digest your food. Fat takes longer than protein or carbohydrates to break down, which means the process takes longer and requires more stomach acid.

Ultimately, that puts your stomach more at risk for symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD.

The second reason is that avocados release a chemical called CCK that can loosen the esophageal sphincter, causing acid reflux.

We think of acid reflux as being caused by the acidity in the stomach being too low on the pH scale, which is why taking a basic antacid can neutralize symptoms.

It’s true that eating a lot of acidic foods and drinking alcohol and caffeine make acid reflux worse, but it’s not just because the stomach acid becomes too acidic – it is because the muscle separating the stomach and the esophagus is too weak. 

The LES, the lower esophageal sphincter, is a ring of muscles at the bottom of your esophagus that controls the flow of food and stomach acid.

When this muscle weakens, stomach fluid can rise up from the stomach back into the esophagus. This causes that awful uncomfortable feeling that we associate with acid reflux.

Eating avocados can lead to the release of more of the hormone CCK (cholecystokinin) that weakens the esophageal sphincter, making acid reflux more likely.

Are Avocados Healthy?

Avocados can definitely be a healthy part of your diet. They’re full of nutrients that we need in good proportions, and have a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. 

Avocados are so rich in nutrients that they are practically superfoods.

They are high in levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K. They also contain important phytochemicals like lutein and zeaxanthin that can help your eyes.

They have a lot of fiber, which is important not just because most people are deficient in fiber, but because fiber can help to reduce acid reflux by binding with acids in your stomach.

Avocados are full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help to get rid of free radicals in your body, preventing cancer and diabetes.

Some of these compounds reduce your risk of stomach and colon cancer, and cardiovascular problems like heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Avocados are extremely healthy, but some will complain about their fat content.

Avocados are fattier than the average fruit with up to 70% of the calories in an avocado coming from fat. This is only really a bad thing if you’re on a very weight-focused diet.

The fats that occur in avocados are very healthy mono-unsaturated fats that can actually reduce your risk of heart disease and help you maintain a healthy weight.

Are Avocados Alkaline?

Technically, avocados are mildly acidic with a pH of 6.27 to 6.58.

However, they do have an alkalizing effect on your stomach.

There are many macronutrients in avocados that form alkaline compounds when they react with the acids in your stomach. For this reason, avocados are considered mildly alkaline.

If you want to neutralize the pH in your stomach, you should eat alkaline foods and fruits and vegetables, to offset the acidity.

Avocados can help you with this, but there are better choices. For example, coconuts and coconut water are very helpful in alkalizing as well and can help you relieve symptoms immediately. 

Avocados are very creamy and neutral, which helps them cut the spice in tacos and other dishes. They are often used to help neutralize really strong flavors.

They might not do the same for your stomach when you have acid reflux.

Simply because avocados are so fatty, they can increase the effects of acid reflux. The higher fat content causes your stomach to take longer to digest, and requires more stomach acid.

RELATED: Are Apples Acidic?

Are Avocados Safe To Eat With Acid Reflux?

This might depend on what your diet is.

First of all, if you have any sensitivity to avocados or they have bothered your stomach before, you might want to steer clear of them when you have acid reflux.

Avocados affect people differently, as every food affects people’s acid reflux differently, so you’ll want to figure out what your own food sensitivities are.

Some people do find that eating avocado regularly in small amounts actually helps their GERD. Avocado is full of healthy macronutrients and compounds and many of these contribute to good stomach health.

However, eating avocado probably won’t bring immediate relief to your acid reflux or heartburn symptoms. And eating a dish that is made with avocado might not help you in the short term.

3 Delicious Avocado Recipes

If you are an avocado lover, then we are sure you would love to experiment with your taste. But you sure are aware of the mild-acidic level of avocados. So, one must consider the pH factor before opting for any dish.

Avocados are a treat to food lovers who used to try different recipes. They are rich in texture and flavor and contribute to making some of the best Mexican recipes to Latin American.

One could try several Avocado recipes to satisfy their taste buds. These recipes are not only easy to make but are delicious too.

With healthy monounsaturated fats, Avocados are fun to eat with a balance of nutrients and a healthy balance of carbohydrates and fats.

Quick Table: Best Avocado Recipes

1. Sweet Potato, Feta Muffins & Avocado

It’s incredible how much flavor can be packed into a small package! If you have a sweet tooth, muffins are undoubtedly one of the best things to try.

Whether an adult or child, these muffins will be loved by everyone. These muffins will be great for small get-togethers or parties.

Imagine baked sweet potatoes, avocado, and maple syrup with diced feta in an amazingly delicious taste.

Make this savory bake with super-ripe avocados, mixed seeds and cheese, and sweet potato chunks. You can check out the vegan version of Avocado muffins if you are a diet freak. 

Calories: 268 (per serving)

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes

RELATED: Is Mango An Acidic Food? The Truth About Mangoes And Health

2. California Quinoa & Avocado Salad

If you love summer and beaches, try these California Quinoa avocado salads. They are easy to digest and can be combined with other flavors. If you are conscious about your weight, you may try making the fatty content as small as possible.

The yummy avocado salad has small butternut chunks, cooked quinoa, pomegranate seeds with mint and coriander seeds, and ripe avocado.

The Recipe has an excellent recipe for a gluten-free diet, too, with the dressing addicting because of its tahini and avocado combo. Also, it is a beautiful recipe to use up ripe avocados.  

Calories: 740 (per serving)

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes

3. Guacamole

Guacamole is a great option to choose if you are looking for a classic Mexican dish. Ripe avocado and salt are all you need to make guacamole.

A splash of acidity, like lime or lemon juice, will help balance the avocado’s richness. You may add chilis, chopped cilantro, onion, and tomato.

One can keep the guacamole as simple as you can, and it will enhance the flavor of your tacos.

Eating Guacamole is an easy option to upgrade your dinner plans and can be used as a dip at parties. Yes, a bunch of mixes and ripe avocados will do miracles.

Calories: 103 (per serving)

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should I Eat Avocado In The Morning Or Night?

According to a study, eating half to two avocados per day is reasonable. Since we know Avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fat.

They help you in making you fill up and make you feel satisfied. Having more avocado than you need will lead to healthy digestion and helps with constipation problems too. 

What Is The Best Way To Eat Avocado?

You may have it raw on the toast or in the salad. However, having the avocado in guacamole is one of the popular choices, mixing it up with onion, tomato, sea salt, and jalapenos with a tangy lime flavor.

However, if you cook them properly, they will taste good.

Is An Avocado Alkaline Or Acidic?

Avocados come in the list of fruits from low to high acidic levels. However, avocados are rich in fat and nutrients and have vitamins, including C, B5, K, E, and B6.

3 Easy & Healthy Avocado Recipes

If you are an avocado lover, then we are sure you would love to experiment with your taste. But you sure are aware of the mild-acidic level of avocados.

Ingredients

• Sweet Potato, Feta Muffins & Avocado

• California Quinoa & Avocado Salad

• Guacamole

Directions

• Pick a recipe from the list above
• Click the recipe name and visit the website
• Collect the ingredients and cook the food
• Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review

Recipe Video

• Author
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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!

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