Several drinks can help relieve acid reflux by neutralizing stomach acid, soothing the esophagus, or helping your stomach empty faster. The best options include plain water, ginger tea, alkaline water, aloe vera juice, and nonfat milk. Just as important as what you drink is knowing which popular beverages can actually make reflux worse.
Water: The Simplest Option
Plain water dilutes stomach acid and helps wash acid back down from the esophagus. It’s the safest, most accessible choice during a flare-up. Sipping water between meals or before eating is generally better for reflux than drinking large amounts with food, which can overfill the stomach and push acid upward. If drinking with meals leaves you bloated or worsens your symptoms, shift your water intake to between meals instead.
Alkaline Water
Alkaline water with a pH of 8.8 can help neutralize pepsin, one of the digestive enzymes your stomach produces. Pepsin breaks down protein, but during reflux episodes it can become lodged in the tissues of your esophagus and continue causing irritation long after the burning stops. Alkaline water inactivates pepsin in a way that regular water doesn’t, making it a useful option if you deal with reflux frequently. You can find bottled alkaline water at most grocery stores, or use a home alkalizing filter.
Ginger Tea
Ginger supports faster gastric emptying, meaning it helps food move from your stomach into your small intestine more quickly. Once food clears the stomach, your body no longer needs to produce as much acid to digest it, which reduces the chance of acid flowing back up into the esophagus.
To make ginger tea, peel fresh ginger root, slice or grate it, and steep it in boiling water for about 15 minutes. You can also add it raw to a smoothie or use it as a ginger shot. Start with a small amount if you haven’t used ginger regularly, since concentrated ginger on an empty stomach can cause mild nausea in some people.
Nonfat Milk
Milk is a common home remedy for heartburn, but the type of milk matters. Whole milk and 2% milk contain enough fat to actually aggravate reflux. Fat slows digestion and can relax the muscular valve between your stomach and esophagus, letting acid escape. Nonfat (skim) milk, on the other hand, acts as a temporary buffer between your stomach lining and its acidic contents, providing quick relief. Think of it as a short-term fix rather than a long-term strategy.
Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe vera juice has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe an irritated esophagus. A cup per day is a reasonable limit, but it’s smart to start with a smaller amount to see how your body handles it. Drinking too much can cause cramping or diarrhea, which can then lead to electrolyte imbalances. If you notice any digestive upset, scale back to every other day or every third day.
Look for aloe vera juice labeled as purified or decolorized, which means the latex compounds (the parts most likely to cause cramping) have been removed.
Cabbage Juice
Cabbage juice is a less common choice, but it has some interesting properties. Cabbage contains a compound sometimes called “vitamin U” that may lower inflammation and support healing in the digestive tract. Animal studies have shown that cabbage extract increases the pH of gastric juice, making it less acidic, while also reducing the total volume of stomach acid produced. It’s not the most appealing drink on its own, but blending cabbage with carrot, apple, or ginger can make it palatable.
Drinks That Can Make Reflux Worse
Carbonated Beverages
Sparkling water, soda, and seltzer introduce gas into your stomach, which increases pressure and can force the valve at the top of your stomach open. This is true even for plain carbonated water with no added sugar or caffeine. If you’re dealing with active reflux, flat beverages are a safer bet.
Peppermint Tea
This one surprises people because peppermint feels soothing. But peppermint relaxes the smooth muscle in the lower esophagus, which is exactly the muscle that’s supposed to stay closed to keep acid in your stomach. If your reflux is caused by a weak or overly relaxed valve, peppermint tea can make episodes more frequent.
Coffee and Citrus Juice
Coffee (including decaf) stimulates acid production, and citrus juices like orange and grapefruit are naturally acidic enough to irritate an already inflamed esophagus. Both are common reflux triggers. If you can’t give up coffee entirely, drinking it with food rather than on an empty stomach can reduce its impact.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is widely promoted online as a reflux remedy, but the evidence behind it is thin, and the risks are real. Vinegar is highly acidic, and drinking it regularly or without proper dilution can damage the lining of your esophagus. If you choose to try it despite the lack of strong evidence, mix no more than one tablespoon into 8 ounces of water. Never drink it undiluted.
How You Drink Matters Too
Beyond choosing the right beverages, a few habits make a noticeable difference. Sip slowly rather than gulping, since swallowing air along with large volumes of liquid increases stomach pressure. Avoid drinking large amounts within two to three hours of lying down, because gravity is one of your best defenses against reflux. Keeping a glass of water on your nightstand for small sips is fine, but a full glass of anything right before bed can set off nighttime symptoms.
Temperature also plays a minor role. Very hot drinks can irritate an already inflamed esophagus, so letting tea or warm water cool to a comfortable temperature before drinking is a simple way to avoid added discomfort.