Peanut butter may fit into an acid reflux diet, but it depends on each person. People respond differently to foods and have specific foods that trigger acid reflux symptoms. Acid reflux diets don't usually mention peanut butter as a food to avoid. You may have to test it yourself to see if you experience heartburn, the burning sensation in your upper chest and throat or an acidic taste in the back of your mouth from reflux.
Causes and Triggers
Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, causing heartburn or a sour taste in your mouth. Certain foods relax an esophageal muscle, which normally opens as contents enter the stomach and then closes. A relaxed muscle does not contract tightly and allows acid reflux to occur, Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology notes. Products that commonly relax the muscle and trigger acid reflux include fried or fatty foods, tomato-based products, citrus fruit, chocolate, carbonated beverages, caffeine and alcohol.
Saturated and Unsaturated Fat
Although peanut butter contains fat, it consists mostly unsaturated fat. Foods high in saturated fat -- such as meat, poultry with skin and whole-milk dairy products -- may trigger acid reflux symptoms. A serving, or 2 tbsp., of peanut butter contains about 3 g of saturated fat compared to about 12 g of unsaturated fat, according to Dr. Walter C. Willett in the July 2009 "Harvard Health Letter." Unsaturated fat has been called the healthy fat because it may improve cholesterol levels.
Digestion
Peanut butter also contains fiber, often a healthy addition to an acid reflux diet. Fiber aids digestion to decrease the risk of acid reflux. Slow digestion from heavy meals or foods high in saturated fat requires the stomach to secrete more acid during the digestive process. The fiber in peanut butter may even help absorb excess acid because of its thick quality. Acid reflux diets usually recommend fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, including bread, pasta, oatmeal and cereal. Lean meats, skinless poultry, fish and nonfat or low-fat dairy products may also help an acid reflux diet.
Food Journal
If you experience acid reflux after eating peanut butter, make sure the symptoms come from the peanut butter before giving it up. Refined breads may cause symptoms. Enjoy peanut butter on whole-grain or whole-wheat bread or crackers instead of refined breads, which contain fat. Suffering symptoms after eating peanut butter and chocolate candies may come from the chocolate, a common culprit. Keep a food journal for about a week, writing down the foods you eat and the symptoms that follow to help identify and gradually eliminate offending foods from your diet, according to the McKinley Health Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
