Bananas are one of the most nutritious and delicious fruits on the planet. They are rich in nutrients and minerals such as potassium, vitamin C and B6 that are good for your body. So, can they cause heartburn?
While others may think that riped or too riped bananas can cause heartburn, there is no study so far that has found this. It may be because you eat too much because eating too much can result in acid reflux or there might be underlying sickness that makes you sensitive to bananas.
They are also rich in:
- antioxidants
- support good digestive health
- improve your blood sugar levels
- and aid in weight loss by making you feel fuller for longer.
Bananas are one of the most prevalent crops found on nearly all continents. They are also available in different varieties, including blue, red, yellow, etc.
In the recent past, more and more people have been complaining of getting heartburn due to eating bananas. Studies have also shown that bananas can help to curb heartburn.
In this article, we will dwell deeper into this topic to help to know whether banana causes heartburn or not and what to do to lessen the chances of suffering from heartburn.
Do Bananas Cause Heartburn?
So why do bananas give heartburn? Bananas are mild in acid, meaning they don’t pose a severe threat to heartburn. That is why they are usually recommended for people who want to get rid of acid reflux.
Bananas don’t cause heartburn when eaten ripe. The possible cause of heartburn is if you have overeaten. If you didn’t eat too much then something else is the one that causes your heartburn. These could be if you eat fast and hardly chew the food, are smoking, obesity, and if you are taking some medications.
Bananas contain indigestible carbohydrates that cause gun fermentation, leading to the acid influx. It is also important to note that overripe bananas can cause heartburn because of their high acidity.
So, eating raw or overripe bananas can cause heartburn. Additionally, eating bananas on an empty stomach can also cause acid reflux, which, in turn, causes heartburn.
Bananas are considered alkaline food because of the high level of potassium that they contain. However, if bananas are raw, their PH is 5, making them acidic.
When you consume plenty of bananas within a short period, it may lead to heartburn because of the high concentration of acid. That is why people who want to get rid of heartburn eat ripe bananas.
What Is Heartburn?
What if you try natural ways to get rid of acid reflux?
Before we tell you why bananas are giving you heartburn, let us first discuss what heartburn is. As its name suggests, heartburn is a burning pain in your chest, behind your breastbone. This pain is usually worst after eating something that triggers it, and in this case, bananas.
The common symptoms of heartburn include:
- a burning sensation on your chest that doesn’t seem to go away
- difficulty in swallowing, pain on your chain when you bend or lay down
- a nasty taste in your throat and a burning sensation on your throat that worsens over time.
Relationship Between Heartburn And Acid Reflux
Acid reflux usually occurs when acid from your stomach enters the esophagus. Because your heart is located right beside the esophagus, it usually feels pain.
That pain is what is known as heartburn. We have already mentioned that bananas courses heartburn and acid influx, so how are these two connected?
The pain that people feel usually varies. Some report very intense pain to the point where they mistake heartburn with a heart attack, while others feel mild discomfort.
The best way to differentiate between a heart attack and heartburn is by noting the time when it occurs. If the pain starts immediately after eating, that is heartburn because it usually occurs immediately after eating something that causes acid reflux.
However, suppose sharp pain occurs even when you have not eaten anything. In that case, you should visit your doctor for a thorough checkup because that could be a sign of a heart attack.
Read: Can Acid Reflux Cause Back Pain?
How To Prevent Heartburn Caused By Banana
If you realize that bananas usually give you heartburn, avoid eating them for a while to give your body time.
- Avoid heating raw bananas and those that are too ripe because they cause high acid level that causes acid reflux which in turn causes heartburn.
- Avoid eating bananas your stomach has nothing because they are more likely to cause heartburn.
- Don’t eat bananas immediately before you go to sleep.
- Don’t eat a lot of bananas at the same time because they will cause acid build-up that will cause heartburn.
Is It Good To Eat Bananas Every Day?
Now that you know that bananas can cause heartburn, you may be wondering whether it is a good thing to eat bananas every day.
Bananas are not only one of the most popular fruits globally but also one of the most nutritious fruits. They are loaded with crucial nutrients and minerals that are good for your overall health and well-being.
Yes, it is good to eat bananas every day, but in moderation. You should also avoid eating raw bananas and those too ripe because they contain high acid levels that can cause heartburn.
More so, even if bananas don’t cause heartburn, too much of something is poisonous, which also applies to bananas. If you eat too many bananas, they will do more harm than good to your body.
They can lead to weight gain and, in some cases, nutrient deficiency. So, if you love eating bananas, then experts recommend that you should take a maximum of two bananas per day.
When Is The Best Time To Eat Bananas?
The best time to eat bananas is in the morning. They give even more desirable outcomes when taken alongside other fruits. The digestive system is usually very active in the morning.
When you eat a banana at this time, it will be digested and absorbed quickly. This means your body will benefit from its rich nutrients and minerals much more quicker.
When you eat a banana in the morning, you will feel fuller for a long, meaning you are less likely to snack in between meals. This is important because it will help limit your calorie intake, thus allowing you to lose or manage your current weight.
How Can I Reduce Heartburn After Eating Bananas?
Bananas are very nutritious, and most people find it hard to rule them out of their diet. Suppose bananas usually give you heartburn, but you are unwilling to let them off your menu. In this case, there are some things that you can do to reduce the chances of suffering from heartburn after eating a banana.
Suppose you are prone to suffer from heartburn after eating a banana. In that case, you should take milk immediately after consuming your banana.
The PH of milk is higher than neutral PH and will help to stabilize acidity in your stomach, thus stopping heartburn. Drinking a glass of milk immediately after eating a banana is enough to prevent heartburn.
If you have to boil the milk before drinking, don’t drink it when it is too hot. Wait for it until it reaches room temperature before sipping.
If you are lactose intolerant and cannot take dairy products, you can use coconut water. Coconut water is very effective in getting rid of heartburn.
It can be very beneficial for people who suffer from heartburn. The good thing about coconut water is that it is readily available and instantly delivers relief. It is also an excellent option for people who are not tolerant of dairy products.
If coconut water is not available, then fruits such as an apple can help to prevent heartburn. Besides being yummy and nutritious, apples can help stabilize the acidity in your stomach, thus keeping heartburn at bay. However, If all of the above methods fail to work, you should consult your doctor.
Are Bananas Healthy?
You have probably heard that bananas are the world’s healthiest fruits. But are bananas healthy? YES, bananas are incredibly healthy. They are loaded with various vitamins and minerals that can help enhance your health.
Bananas are rich in vitamin C, which plays a crucial role in the growth, repair, and development of cells and tissues. Vitamin C also helps in boosting your immune system and accelerates the wound healing process. Bananas alone can provide about 17% of your vitamin C needs.
Bananas are rich in vitamin B6, which helps reduce the symptoms of depression, improve your mood, and help accelerate hemoglobin production. Vitamin B6 also plays a huge role during pregnancy and can help make your pregnancy smooth.
Bananas also contain starch and fiber, which can help curb your appetite, thus preventing you from over-eating. It also helps to control your blood sugar levels. This makes the banana an excellent fruit for people who have diabetes. It will not harm their health if consumed in moderation.
Bananas also contain specific prebiotics and fibers that aid in digestion. This means that bananas can help people suffering from acid reflux which causes heartburn.
If you have been thinking about adding bananas to your diet but wondering if they are suitable for your health, now you know the answer.
Adding bananas to your diet can help to enhance your health and well-being. However, you should consume them in moderation.
Do Bananas Help Or Cause Heartburn?
Most people are usually confused about the issue of heartburn and bananas. So do bananas cause heartburn or help to prevent heartburn? A short answer is they do both. They can cause heartburn, and they can also help to prevent heartburn.
Bananas are high in potassium, which is pretty alkaline. The alkalinity of the banana enables it to counteract the stomach acid that is irritating your esophagus.
This means that bananas can help get rid of heartburn if you eat the right banana in the right quantity. On the other hand, if you eat unripe bananas or bananas that are too ripe, they will trigger acid reflux, thus causing heartburn.
This is because raw and over-ripped bananas contain more acid, which causes acid reflux. So, if you want a banana to help prevent heartburn, make sure you eat a banana that is ripe but not too ripe.
Does Drinking Water Help to Reduce Heartburn Caused by Bananas?
YES, drinking water can help reduce heartburn by reducing acid in the stomach and symptoms of heartburn. Heartburn usually occurs when you eat foods that are high in acid.
When you drink water right after your meal, you will help dilute the acid, resulting in less heartburn.
Therefore, if the banana you have just eaten has caused heartburn, a quick way of lessening the symptoms is by drinking a glass of water to dilute the acid.
Conclusion
Although bananas are high in potassium which usually turns into potassium nitrate, they are not supposed to cause heartburn. Suppose you have been having heartburn every time you eat bananas and wondering what could be the cause. In that case, we hope that this article has been informative.
If you want to get the nutritional benefits of a banana, then you should eat them in moderation. So, if bananas give you heartburn, you should limit your intake to only one or two bananas a day.
Additionally, you should also avoid consuming a lot of bananas at the same time.
Moreover, suppose you love bananas so much, and you cannot let them off your menu. In that case, there are things you can do to prevent heartburn, including drinking milk, coconut water, or water immediately after eating a banana. This will help to counteract the acid, thus preventing you from suffering from heartburn.