Acid reflux occurs when the acidic contents of your stomach backflow up and into your esophagus, which irritates the membranes and causes discomfort. Acid reflux may involve indigestion and stomach irritation, but not always. Cranberry and other acidic juices can help with acid reflux if it is caused by poor digestion or bacterial infection. Talk to your doctor about the causes and standard medical treatments for acid reflux.
Acid Reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a condition in which the stomach contents move backwards up the esophagus. The stomach and intestinal contents contain hydrochloric acid and bile, which irritate the mucosal membranes of the esophagus that weren't designed for such low pH exposure. Reflux of this material causes symptoms often referred to as heartburn, although chronic and severe heartburn may mean you have GERD.
Symptoms
The primary symptom of acid reflux is a burning sensation in the chest behind the sternum, but other symptoms include food regurgitation into the mouth, excessive belching, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing and chronic cough, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Severe acid reflux can cause people to think they are having a heart attack. Acid reflux often occurs shortly after eating a meal and gets worse at night when you lay down. Ulcers can eventually develop in your esophagus from untreated GERD.
Causes
The main cause of chronic acid reflux is the weakening or malfunction of the sphincter or band of muscle separating your lower esophagus from your stomach, according to MayoClinic.com. This sphincter, called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, is responsible for carefully letting food into the stomach without allowing digestive juices out of the stomach. Factors known to weaken the LES include pregnancy, obesity, hiatal hernia of the top part of the stomach, cigarette smoking, frequent vomiting and drug interactions. Another cause of acid reflux is poorly digested food, which enters your intestines and provides a substrate for bacteria fermentation. Fermenting bacteria produce hydrogen gas, which puts back pressure on the LES and prevents it from closing properly. Not enough acidity in your stomach is a primary cause of poorly digested food.
Cranberry Juice
If you have a weakened of malfunctioning LES, then drinking acidic juices such as cranberry juice will likely not make much impact, and may actually irritate your symptoms if your take it during an acid reflux attack, according to the "Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine." However, if you are experiencing heartburn symptoms from poor digestion, then drinking unsweetened cranberry juice a few minutes prior to eating may increase the acidity of your stomach and promote better digestion. This is why lemon juice and apple cider vinegar are also known as home remedies for indigestion. Consult with a doctor about the likely cause of acid reflux and all available treatment options.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: GERD
- Mayoclinic.com: GERD
- "Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine: 2nd Edition"; Brent Bauer M.D.; 2010
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