The chest throbbing and burning sensation, heartburn, and frequent acid reflux is a medical condition called GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Patients with GERD may experience mild to severe discomfort and pain. In addition, they may suffer from frequent vomiting, regurgitation, dysphagia, gas belching, and chronic cough. GERD can lead to more severe health conditions like malnutrition and low blood sugar if left untreated.
GERD is usually the result of the malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, which may also be hereditary. Breaking down of the lower esophageal sphincter triggers acid indigestion and heartburn. However, it also not hinders stomach acid, allowing it to flow back through the esophagus and go to the mouth. In some cases, psychological factors like too much or uncontrollable stress, pressure, and anxiety can also trigger acid refluxes and GERD.
A person who suffers from GERD can be treated with medications and surgery, but avoiding food or drink triggers, lifestyle changes, and the following remedies should help alleviate the symptoms.
Ripe Bananas
Bananas are yellow, mushy, and sweet fruits from the Malaya Peninsula. Bananas are one of the most common and staple items in every household. They are inexpensive, healthy, easy to prepare, and convenient to store. In addition, eating bananas everyday can do wonders for a person’s body, like combating heartburn caused by GERD.
Bananas contain many essential nutrients the body needs, such as fiber, vitamin C, riboflavin, and potassium. With its essential nutrients, potassium is the key nutrient that helps fight GERD. In addition, the potassium found in bananas can have alkaline content in the stomach, which is known to neutralize acids in the bloodstream or guts. This means it can counteract the acids found in the gut that irritate the esophagus.
Since bananas are also considered low-acid fruit, they can neutralize the acids found in the stomach by coating the irritated esophageal lining. They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber, to help food flow quickly through the digestive tract, preventing the backflow of food.
However, eating unripe bananas is not beneficial to GERD since they have less-alkaline content, are heavy in starch, and may trigger acid reflux.
