Heartburn is described as a burning, painful sensation to your chest behind your breastbone area. Occasional heartburn is common and should not be a cause of alarm. Change of lifestyle and taking over-the-counter medications can repel the scorching pain in your chest. However, if heartburn happens daily and is starting to interfere with your daily task, medical care is suggested.
Heartburn symptoms include a bitter-acidic taste in the mouth, throbbing pain that worsens when you are lying down or bending over, and a burning pain that occurs after eating or during nighttime. Immediate medical help is required if the heartburn sensation is combined with soring pain in the jaw and arm area. This pain might be related to critical conditions like heart attack and lockjaw.
If you are experiencing heartburn, consuming a banana can help in reducing symptoms related to heartburn. Bananas have low-acid content and can be included in your daily fruit serving. Mixing your oatmeal with slices of ripe banana can aid in digestion, preventing heartburn.
Is Banana Good for Acid Reflux?
People that are experiencing heartburn know the importance of avoiding consuming foods that might trigger their acid reflux. For example, foods that are high in saturated fat can loosen the pressure on your sphincter muscle. This results in the travel food back to the esophagus and throat, which can cause heartburn.
Gastroesophageal reflux or GERD is the medical term for heartburn. The jargon was derived because it gives a “burning sensation in the heart area.” Aside from the burning sensation from the digestive tract up to the esophagus, other senses are related to acid reflux. This includes the following scenario:
- The unbearable feeling of food coming back up to their mouth
- Unstoppable chronic cough that worsens when they are lying down.
- Have trouble swallowing due to the inflammation in their esophagus area.
Eating certain foods that can minimize the acid reflex can tighten the lower esophageal sphincter. This will allow the food to be taken aback by the stomach area, minimizing the stomach acids traveling up to the esophagus area. Certain foods that can cause GERD includes caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, acidic foods, and spicy foods.
While bananas have a pH level of 4.50 to 5.20, it is considered alkaline and should not be treated as an acidic fruit. Several gastroenterologists suggest consuming bananas to fight back acid reflux since it has a good amount of fiber and vitamin B6. Fiber can pull back the acids that irritate the esophagus back to the stomach area.
On the other hand, vitamin B6 provides nutrients to the bone and hearts, protecting against heartburn. Consuming raw bananas can prevent symptoms related to acid reflux from occurring. Combining bananas with other low-acid fruits like apples and almonds can protect the overall health of your heart.
Do Bananas Make Acid Reflux Worse?
Contrary to what people believe, bananas can improve your stomach condition against acid reflux. While bananas fall under an acidic fruit, the potassium content of this fruit is considered alkaline. This means that the fruit can provide enough nutrients and fibers to repel symptoms associated with acid reflux.
Heartburn can be experienced by everyone at least once in their lifetime. Aside from being a nuisance, heartburn can give a painful burning sensation that creeps up to your esophagus. The stomach acids clawing up to the throat give away a mixture of bitter-sour taste.
This condition is also related to GERD, which is considered a severe form of acid reflux. Acid reflux can be limited by losing excess weight, avoiding alcohol and nicotine, eating smaller meals, and chewing food to aid digestion. Selecting foods that don’t trigger acid reflux may also help against this condition.
As mentioned earlier, bananas are considered low-acid fruit. The fibers and potassium found in this fruit can coat the already irritated esophageal lining, providing much-needed comfort. The fiber found on bananas can also provide additional strength in the digestive tract, preventing indigestion.
When the food is not digested correctly, stomach acids may be released when the lining on the esophagus is on the loose. This provides access to the stomach acids to irritate the esophagus and mouth area. Bananas also contain a high amount of pectin, a natural soluble fiber that improves one’s lower bowel movement.
Lesser food within the stomach area prevents the reproduction of acids. Acids are created when extra foods that stick around the digestive tract don’t undergo proper digestion. Aside from gas, it may release acids that can cause belching, vomit, and acid reflux. Consuming bananas provides pectin, fiber, and other nutrients that can keep your mobility at the right place.
What Fruits Cause Heartburn?
Heartburn can affect around 60 million Americans in a month. When the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes, stomach acids can rush through your esophagus, releasing acids that are too painful for the throat and mouth area. The lower esophageal sphincter can be described as a ring-like muscle that opens when you swallow or belch. If people are experiencing acid reflux commonly, it can elevate in GERD, which can only be treated by regulating one’s diet.
Fruits are generally healthy food, but certain fruits can trigger your heartburn. These fruits have a high number of acids that loosen the grip of your lower esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acids to burn your stomach. Here are some of the fruits that can cause heartburn.
- Mints in the form of peppermint and spearmint are thought to provide comfort to the digestive tract. However, a recent study shows that mints can cause heartburn. The elements found in mint are proven to irritate the esophagus area.
- Citrus juices can trigger symptoms related to heartburn. Several studies on several citrus juices like orange and grapefruit show an increase in heartburn from up to 73 percent. Like mint, citrus juices irritate the esophagus area, allowing stomach acids to burst up to the throat.
- Cocoa used in chocolates can also relax your esophageal sphincter. This fruit has high-fat content, which can allow stomach acids to release—producing heartburn. Serotonin found on chocolates can also relax your esophagus too.
