The Best Probiotics for Acid Reflux and Heartburn

Bacteria that are "good" for you can be found in foods, drinks, and pill remedies. Probiotics might be able to help with many health issues, especially those that affect the gut and stomach. There is GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), which is also known as "acid reflux." This is one of the main reasons why people get heartburn.

Even though more research needs to be done, scientists have found a few types of probiotics that seem to help with acid reflux and heartburn the most.

1. Lactobacillus strains

One of the easiest probiotics to get is also one of the most helpful. People who have heartburn or acid reflux often take probiotic supplements with Lactobacillus acidophilus and other types of Lactobacillus. Probiotic pills you can buy over the counter, yogurt, cabbage, kimchi, and fermented soy products all have these bacteria in them.

Other Lactobacillus may have similar benefits, including:

L. gasseri

Casei L.

L. plantarum

L. rhamnosus

L. reuteri

A lot of probiotic supplements have more than one strain, so it's hard to tell how much of the effect comes from each strain. Also, it's not clear how L. acidophilus and other probiotics help with heartburn.

2. Bifidobacterium strains

A type of bacteria called Bifidobacterium animalis, subspecies lactis (which used to be called B. lactis) is often found in probiotic products. It is known to help keep your gut system healthy. It helps people who have trouble going to the bathroom, heartburn, GERD, and constipation.

In addition to pills, it can also be found in kefir and other fermented milk products (more on this below). Other types of Bifidobacterium, like B. bifidum and B. longum, have also been used to treat acid reflux and worked well. It's hard to say which Bifidobacterium type is best because, like Lactobacillus strains, they are often found together.

3. Kefir

Kefir is made from milk that has been fermented and is very thin like yogurt. When you go to the store, you can usually find it near the yogurt or milk. It's possible to get used to it. But kefir can taste really good after you get used to it.

Kefir contains a variety of probiotics. Here are some examples:

Lactococcus species

Streptococcus thermophilus

Lactobacillus species

Acetobacter species

Yeast species

Based on the study that has been done on some of these probiotic strains, kefir might help with heartburn and acid reflux. But there haven't been any studies that specifically look at whether drinking kefir can directly affect acid reflux symptoms.

4. Prebiotics

But prebiotics are not the same as probiotics. They are an important part of having good gut bacteria. They are the food that bacteria need to grow and spread. Some examples are

High-fiber vegetables

Inulin

Chicory root

Berries

Whole grains

One prebiotic substance, maltosyl-isomalto-oligosaccharides, has been shown to make GERD symptoms a lot better. Some people who had been taking heartburn medicines for a long time were able to stop taking them all together after they started taking the prebiotic supplement daily.

But this is still very early research; bigger studies are needed. It would be very interesting if a fiber product could help with GERD symptoms better than medicines.

Lesson Summary

The article discusses how probiotics can aid in alleviating acid reflux and heartburn issues. Here are the key points:

• Probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, have shown promise in addressing acid reflux and heartburn.
• Lactobacillus Strains:
  • Commonly found in probiotic supplements, yogurt, cabbage, kimchi, and fermented soy products.
  • Beneficial strains include L. acidophilus, L. gasseri, L. casei, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, and L. reuteri.
• Bifidobacterium Strains:
  • Notably, Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis, B. bifidum, and B. longum have been helpful for acid reflux sufferers.
  • Commonly found in kefir, fermented milk products, and probiotic supplements.
• Kefir:
  • A fermented milk product that contains various probiotics like Lactococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Acetobacter species.
  • Some studies suggest kefir may aid in reducing acid reflux symptoms, though direct causation is yet to be proven.
• Prebiotics:
  • Although not probiotics, prebiotics are essential for nurturing good gut bacteria.
  • Examples include high-fiber vegetables, inulin, chicory root, berries, and whole grains.
  • One prebiotic, maltosyl-isomalto-oligosaccharides, has shown potential in improving GERD symptoms.