It's easy to get answers about health and nutrition! Just send your question by email to [email protected] and Dr. Harlan will respond to selected questions of general interest. Answers will be posted in the Ask Dr. Gourmet newsletter (sign up now!) and archived in the Ask Dr. Gourmet section of the website.
Please note that the Ask Dr. Gourmet feature is restricted to questions regarding food and nutrition. Due to the many questions we receive, not all questions may be answered. For more specific questions about your individual health, please contact your doctor. About Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Ask Dr. Gourmet
Why are onions and garlic in a recipe labeled "safe for those with GERD?"
The Six Bean Soup recipe says that it's safe for those with GERD / Acid Reflux, but wouldn't the onions and garlic both be GERD triggers?
Dr. Gourmet Says...
For a lot of people with GERD, cooking onions for a prolonged period of time will keep them from being as much of a trigger. This, combined with the fact that there is actually very little onion per serving (less than 1 ounce per serving), means that it may be safe.
The key to cooking for yourself with GERD is for many people trial and error. The research is not well defined, unfortunately. You can start with a recipe like this one with little onion or garlic that has been cooked for a long time to see how it might affect you.
As with all recipes, if these two are major triggers another good strategy is to simply leave them out and see if you still like the recipe.
Thanks for writing,
Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet