1. The Symptoms That Come up
Acid reflux can cause pain and burning just by the simple act of eating. If you have acid reflux, certain foods can trigger an episode of acid reflux. Although everyone has different triggers, some people experience acid reflux after eating fruit. Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, occurs when the stomach produces excess acid to digest the food just eaten. Combine the excess acid with a sphincter muscle that doesn't close properly and you have acid reflux. The weakened muscle allows some acid to leak, causing the acid to flow back up the esophagus. This backward flow of acid causes the pain and burning experienced by acid reflux patients. Acid reflux is a symptom of GERD (gastric esophageal reflux disease) which is more serious. Some GERD patients need to have surgery to repair the sphincter muscle. Frequent acid reflux can also irritate the esophagus and cause bleeding in some people.
2. Fruits can Aggravate Acid Reflux
Some fruits have a high acid content and can aggravate acid reflux in some people. If certain fruits trigger acid reflux for you, doctors recommend either avoiding them altogether or limiting their intake. If you choose to continue eating trigger fruits, eat them in smaller portions so your body has time to digest the fruit with a minimum amount of excess acid production. If you are going to eat fruits that aggravate your acid reflux, eat them well before bedtime, because lying down makes the pain and burning of acid reflux worse. Fruits that have a higher acid content include tomatoes, grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes and pineapple. Sour fruit, like sour apples, plums, peaches and grapes should also be avoided to reduce the incidence of an acid reflux episode. Sour fruits are sometimes used in cooking, baking and making jams or jellies.
3. Choose low Acid Fruits
Fruits that have a low acid content are best for those who have acid reflux. Low acid fruits include bananas, apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, pears, mangos and cherries. Almost all berries, including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, huckleberries and elderberries are also low in acid. Don't forget that watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melons are also low in acid and a good choice for those who suffer with acid reflux. If you are unsure if high acid fruit triggers acid reflux in you, eat only a small amount of the fruit to start.
