1. Acid Reflux and Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a fruit (yes, fruit) with a high acid content. For some people with heartburn or acid reflux, eating tomatoes will aggravate the condition. Although not everyone with acid reflux has a reaction to tomatoes, those who do may need to avoid tomatoes or eliminate them from their diet. Acid reflux begins when the stomach produces acid to digest the food you've just eaten. With acid reflux, the sphincter muscle that keeps contents in the stomach may not close completely. This causes stomach acid to leak out and travel back up the esophagus. Acid reflux can cause pain and burning after eating a food that triggers it and tomatoes are a common cause of acid reflux. If left untreated, acid reflux can damage the esophagus and lead to GERD. Acid reflux, when experienced on a regular basis is a symptom of GERD (gastric esophageal reflux disorder). GERD is more serious and some people need surgery to correct the sphincter muscle that leaks.
2. Foods Containing Hidden Tomatoes
Some foods containing tomatoes are fairly obvious, including salads with tomatoes, sandwiches with tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, tomato soup, vegetable and tomato juice. If you suffer from acid reflux and tomatoes are a trigger, you need to be aware of some foods that contain tomatoes that you may not think of. Many soup bases, including vegetable soup, contain tomatoes, as does chili. Some sauces or gravies have tomato paste added for color and others add ketchup for flavor. Baked beans, BBQ sauce and basting sauces may also contain tomatoes. If tomatoes aggravate your acid reflux, make sure you read the food label ingredients on all food products you buy.
3. Suggested Alternatives for Tomatoes
If you miss tomatoes on your salad, try adding different salad ingredients for more variety. Add radishes, olives, cucumbers or green peppers for a more complex salad. If using tomatoes for color and flavor intensity, try using a dash of soy sauce instead of tomatoes. If you are looking for an alternative for BBQ or basting sauce, try a sweet and sour recipe instead of a tomato based recipe. For Italian recipes, try a different sauce altogether. Use a sauce with olive oil, garlic, basil and oregano for a true Italian flavor. If an alternative to tomato flavor won't do, use a very light touch with tomatoes to minimize acid reflux. If eating tomatoes cannot be avoided, make sure you have antacids on hand.
