Fruit for stomach acid: which is safe and which needs to be limited

Acid reflux protects various digestive ailments related to the production of acidic fluids. The common ones are gastritis and GERD which both cause ulcers. One of the tips, pay attention to the consumption of fruit for stomach acid disorders.

Ulcer itself is a group of symptoms that includes stomach nausea, heartburn, bloating, and burning in the chest to throat (heartburn). Who would have thought, the fruit you consume could play a role in preventing or actually causing ulcer symptoms.

Good fruit for stomach acid

Gastric acid is produced by the body to aid digestion and prevent bacterial infections in the digestive tract. Unfortunately, the production can be excessive due to various factors causing the appearance of ulcer symptoms.

Ulcer symptoms are very common in people who often delay eating or sleeping after eating. Especially in people who have acid reflux problems, symptoms can appear at any time due to inappropriate food.

That is why people who have stomach acid problems need to keep their intake of food, including fruit, to prevent recurrence. Some fruits that are safe for consumption by people with acid reflux are as follows.

1. Bananas

Bananas are good for ulcer sufferers because the acidity level is quite weak, namely with a pH level of around 4.5 - 5.2. Eating bananas is believed to help neutralize stomach acid while relieving ulcer symptoms.

This yellow fruit is also rich in potassium in it. In addition, the smooth and easily pulverized texture of bananas can also help restore stomach function.

Bananas that have been swallowed and entered the esophagus can form a protective coating for the esophagus. This is useful for preventing possible irritation due to increased stomach acid.

Banana is also classified as a good fruit for people with stomach acid because of its high fiber content. The fiber content is useful for preventing digestive problems in people with stomach acid.

2. Apples

Apples are one of the few fruits that are good for consumption for people with high stomach acid. This is because apart from being rich in fiber, apples are also a good source of calcium, magnesium and potassium.

All of these nutrients have the potential to help relieve ulcer symptoms that appear. However, you still need to pay attention to the type of apples before eating them.

Not all types of apples are safe for people with high stomach acid. For example, green apples usually have a slightly sour taste, which can cause ulcer symptoms to appear.

The best choice for people with ulcers and stomach acid is a ripe, red apple. This type of apple is much safer for preventing ulcer symptoms from recurring.

3. Melons

Similar to bananas, melons have high alkaline properties thanks to the mineral magnesium in them. Magnesium is one of the main ingredients of antacid drugs to relieve ulcer symptoms.

That is why this one fruit is fairly safe for those of you who have high stomach acid conditions. Apart from not causing an increase in stomach acid levels, melons can also help meet the body's nutritional needs.

The nutritional content of fruit that is safe for people with stomach acid is 7.8 grams of carbohydrates, 0.6 grams of protein, 0.4 grams of fat, and 1 gram of fiber. The intake of various minerals and vitamins also complements the nutrients in melons.

4. Papaya

Normally, the process of breaking down proteins into amino acids involves the help of the enzyme pepsin. However, the enzyme pepsin usually only works actively in the acidic environment of the stomach.

When you experience ulcers due to high stomach acid, of course this condition cannot be tolerated. This is because the acidic environment is at risk of damaging the lining of the intestines, stomach and esophagus.

In this case, to be able to recover the symptoms of ulcers due to increased stomach acid, you can eat papaya. Papaya is a fruit choice that is safe for those of you who are afraid that stomach acid will increase again.

This is because papaya fruit contains the enzyme papain in it. Papain is a protease enzyme that is produced from the sap in papaya fruit.

The function of papain in the digestive system is to help smooth the digestive process and facilitate the breakdown of protein. That way, protein will be much easier to break down into the smallest form of amino acids.

5. Coconut

The water in coconut fruit contains the mineral potassium and various compounds that help calm the digestive system. This is of course very useful for people with acid reflux who often experience ulcer symptoms.

Coconut water also helps maintain normal body temperature and inhibits inflammation of the stomach. You can get the benefits of coconut fruit by regularly consuming one coconut every day for 2 consecutive weeks.

Fruit that must be limited by people with stomach acid problems

Recurrent ulcer symptoms can certainly interfere with activity. However, don't make this an excuse for ulcer sufferers not to eat fruit. Fruit is still important to include in your daily diet because it contains fiber, vitamins and minerals.

On the other hand, there are various fruits that are not recommended for consumption by people with stomach acid. These fruits taste sour and can further irritate the inflamed lining of the stomach.

Here are some fruits that should be avoided for people suffering from ulcers.

1. Tomato

If you like tomatoes but have a problem with stomach acid which is easy to rise, you should limit your consumption. Not without reason, this is because tomatoes contain citric acid and malic acid in them.

Both of these substances can trigger stomach acid to rise which eventually causes ulcer symptoms. If you eat too many tomatoes, either whole or processed into juice, their acid content will affect the digestive system.

The acid then rises into the esophagus, causing various symptoms of ulcers that make the body uncomfortable. This effect makes tomatoes one of the taboos for people with stomach acid.

2. Citrus fruits

Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit are some kinds of fruits that are included in the citrus fruit group. All of these fruits have similarities in their slightly sour and sour taste.

Lime, which in fact includes citrus fruits, is believed to help reduce coughs. However, consuming too much of these fruits can actually stimulate a build-up of stomach acid in the chest and esophagus.

To be sure, a number of researchers conducted a study published in The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology. In that study, 67 out of 382 people complained of a burning sensation in the chest, which is a symptom of an ulcer.

This condition arose after they ate citrus fruits. This happens because the acid content in citrus fruits causes an increase in stomach acid.

3. Avocado

Avocados are indeed rich in healthy fats. Unfortunately, the fat content in this fruit turns out to be less friendly for sufferers of stomach acid and ulcer problems. This is because fat stimulates the production of the hormone cholecystokinin.

The hormone cholecystokinin relaxes the muscles of the cardia sphincter. The cardia sphincter is the barrier between the stomach and esophagus. When these muscles relax, stomach acid can move up from the stomach into the esophagus.

In addition, the hormone cholecystokinin also increases stomach acid production. The increased production of stomach acid plus the relaxation of the cardia sphincter makes the symptoms of ulcers and acid disease getting worse.

In general, fruit is a healthy food. There are almost no bad effects from eating fruit, unless you suffer from acid reflux and are wrong in choosing the type of fruit to eat.

There are fruits that help neutralize stomach conditions, but some actually increase the production of stomach acid. So, be careful in choosing fruit so that healthy fruit eating habits don't actually worsen ulcer symptoms.