The 4 Best Drinks for Esophagitis (Plus 4 to Avoid)

The esophagus is a muscular tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Inflammation in the esophagus is called esophagitis. It can cause symptoms like heartburn, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing. 

Your diet can make a big difference in your esophagitis symptoms. Some drinks can trigger or worsen esophagitis. Others can help soothe and relieve pain. Here are four drinks that can help ease esophagitis, and four to avoid.

1. Water

Water can help lessen esophagitis symptoms. Water keeps things moving through the esophagus, and can temporarily lower the amount of acid in your stomach.

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Frequent sips of water may soothe the esophagus if you’re dealing with heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). And drinking plenty of water when you take medication can also help prevent pill esophagitis. This is when a pill gets stuck in the throat and causes inflammation. That’s why experts recommend taking medications with a full glass of water. 

2. Herbal tea

Some herbal teas may calm esophagus irritation. 

Chamomile tea is well known for its ability to help people get a good night’s sleep. But chamomile also has anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it a good choice for managing esophagitis symptoms.

Ginger is often used to help relieve nausea and vomiting. But ginger tea may also help relieve esophagitis caused by acid reflux. Ginger helps food move from the stomach into the small intestine. This means there’s less time for stomach contents to move backward into the esophagus (reflux) and cause irritation.

Just make sure to let your tea cool off before drinking. Hot liquids can actually worsen esophagitis. 

3. Aloe vera juice

If you spend a lot of time in the sun, you may have used aloe vera gel to relieve pain from a sunburn. But did you know that drinking aloe vera juice can support your health in other ways? 

There is some evidence that natural aloe vera juice may help relieve inflammation in the stomach and esophagus. Another small study found that medications were more effective for people with acid reflux when they drank aloe vera syrup.

But talk to your healthcare professional before trying aloe vera juice. It can be dangerous for people with some types of kidney disease. And aloe vera may interact with some prescribed medications.

4. Plant-based milk

Plant-based milks are made from nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes. Some examples of plant-based milks are:

• Oat 

• Soy

• Almond 

• Hemp 

There are many potential health benefits to following a plant-based diet. These include better blood sugar control, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol. And swapping out cow’s milk for plant-based milk may help some people with esophagitis. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a type of esophagitis that’s triggered by eating and drinking certain foods. Cow’s milk is a common EoE trigger. Eliminating dairy, and replacing it with plant-based milk, may help ease EoE symptoms.

Drinks that can worsen esophagitis

Some drinks can worsen esophagitis. They may directly irritate the lining of the esophagus. They may also make it easier for acid from the stomach to move up into the throat. Here are four drinks to avoid if you have esophagitis.

1. Alcohol

It’s not clear if an occasional alcoholic drink will worsen esophagitis. Some studies showed that avoiding alcohol did not improve people’s GERD symptoms. Other research found that people who drank alcohol were more likely to have symptoms like heartburn.

But chronic or heavy alcohol use is associated with increased risk of esophagitis. It can also lead to a condition called Barrett’s esophagus. People with Barrett’s esophagus have damage in the lining of the bottom part of the esophagus. 

2. Acidic juices

Acidic juices can irritate the lining of the esophagus and make esophagitis worse. Juice made from citrus fruits — like orange and grapefruit — are common triggers for heartburn. Instead, try less acidic options like carrot juice. You can also try melon juice made from watermelon, canteloupe, or honeydew.

3. Carbonated drinks

Carbonated drinks may worsen esophagitis. But the evidence isn’t clear. One study did not find any evidence that carbonated drinks trigger heartburn. But other research found that people who drink carbonated sodas experience higher rates of heartburn. 

It is hard to say if this relationship is due to carbonation, or because many sodas have high acid content. If you have esophagitis it is best to avoid acidic, carbonated drinks like soda. 

4. Hot beverages

Hot beverages can trigger esophagitis. Consuming very hot food or drinks may damage the esophagus and even increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer. But how hot is too hot? 

In studies, drinks over 140°F to 150°F were linked to higher rates of esophagitis. Most hot beverages are served at about 160°F to 185°F. To enjoy your favorite hot drink more safely, let it cool for a few minutes before sipping. 

When should you seek medical care for esophagitis?

The occasional episode of heartburn after a spicy meal is usually not a cause for concern. But if you are having daily symptoms, talk to your primary care provider. It is important to diagnose and treat esophagitis. Untreated, esophagitis can lead to serious health conditions including esophageal ulcers, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer.

You should seek care if you experience these symptoms:

• Trouble swallowing

• Getting food caught or stuck in your throat

• Pain with swallowing

• Vomiting

• Unintentional weight loss

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Tracy Norfleet, MD, FACP

Dr. Tracy Norfleet is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, health expert, and physician leader with over 20 years of experience practicing adult medicine. Dual-certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Tracy possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in both traditional medical practices and innovative lifestyle interventions for chronic disease management and reversal.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

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