Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), happens when the person’s sphincter muscle at the lower part of the esophagus relaxes at the wrong time, sending stomach acid back up the esophagus and causing discomfort known as heartburn. This can also cause other signs and symptoms, and when this happens frequently, GERD can manifest.
When acid reflux happens, there’s a burning sensation in the middle of the person’s chest. This is what medical experts call heartburn. Consequently, there’s also an unpleasant sour taste caused by the stomach acid in the mouth, which can be unbearable and lead to vomiting for some.
Doctors believe acid reflux happens because the person ate too much food or ate late at night. Eating trigger foods such as fatty or fried foods and drinking beverages such as coffee or alcohol can lead to episodic acid reflux attacks. They also say GERD can get triggered by smoking habits and intake of aspirin and other medications.
Health experts say that GERD can cause esophagitis or the inflammation of the tissue in the esophagus. It can also cause the narrowing of the esophagus or esophageal stricture and may even increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
Here are some home remedies for acid reflux:
Ripe Banana
Bananas are among the world’s most popular fruits. Typically eaten when ripe and yellow, bananas contain various nutrients that can have a protective impact on health and wellness. A medium-sized banana contains approximately 110 calories, 28 grams of carbohydrates, one gram of protein, 0 grams of fat, 15 grams of naturally occurring sugar, 450 milligram of potassium, and three grams of dietary fiber.
Eating a ripe banana when an episode of acid reflux happens will help neutralize the stomach acid that can arise from the gastrointestinal tract and damage the esophageal lining. Bananas are an alkaline substance that tempers the acid and prevents it from damaging the sensitive esophageal lining. Bananas are also a rich source of pectin, a highly soluble fiber that helps food move through the intestinal tract. Furthermore, bananas help people feel fuller, and this will help them avoid overeating in the process.
Doctors also advise determining how the body reacts to bananas as they found out that for some people, instead of helping, bananas seemed to aggravate acid reflux symptoms.
