Esophageal esophagitis (EoE) is a health condition characterized by the accumulation of eosinophil, a type of white blood cell, in the esophagus. It commonly involves symptoms like regurgitation, abdominal pain, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. An allergic reaction to food groups or certain environmental factors causes this health condition. Determining food triggers of this condition involves eliminating certain food groups from one’s meal plan. Some foods that may likely cause EoE are listed below.

Eggs

In some cases, egg allergies may cause or aggravate EoE symptoms. Specifically, the body produces antibodies to fight against the proteins in eggs, causing an allergic reaction. So, individuals with EoE should avoid eggs in all forms, as well as baked foods and other preparations containing eggs, for a few days to determine whether eggs are causing the condition.

Soy

Soy may also trigger EoE in some individuals. Hence, people with this condition should avoid all foods containing soy, such as tofu, soybean, soybean oil, soy milk, and soy sauce, adding these back gradually to detect an allergic reaction to this ingredient. One should also carefully check the ingredients of ready-to-eat and packaged foods, as some may contain soy or soy products.

Wheat

Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat and wheat products and can trigger an accumulation of eosinophils in the esophagus for some individuals. Gluten is an active ingredient in cakes, breads, and other baked items. In addition, it is present in foods like ice cream, barley, and oats. Therefore, patients with EoE should avoid including wheat in their meals for a few days, remembering to pick foods containing “gluten-free” labels while buying products from the market.

Fish and shellfish

It is advisable for people with EoE to eliminate fish and shellfish from their meals for some days and add them back in one by one to identify if these food groups are triggers for the condition. Fish and shellfish may also be a part of ready-to-eat foods like Worcestershire sauce; hence, one should check labels carefully and avoid such foods while identifying EoE triggers.

Dairy and dairy products

Dairy can also trigger the accumulation of eosinophils in the esophagus. This allergic reaction may be triggered by dairy in general or specific dairy products. Hence, individuals with EoE should eliminate all dairy products first and add them back one by one to identify the potential trigger.

Nuts

Nut allergies may be a possible underlying cause of EoE. Hence, one should avoid all forms of tree nuts, including oils and nut butters, during the trial-and-error process to detect the underlying cause of EoE. These nut butters and oils may be replaced by olive oil, clarified butter, etc.

While food allergies cause many cases of EoE, environmental factors may also trigger the condition in some scenarios. Therefore, in case of no allergic reactions to the foods and food groups mentioned above, one should consult a healthcare professional and seek guidance to identify the underlying cause of the condition. Moreover, certain foods like ginger, pineapple, cardamom, turmeric, and chicken soup are natural remedies for throat congestion. Hence, it is a good idea to incorporate such foods into one’s daily meal plan while recovering from EoE.