Can Bananas Cause Heartburn?
Bananas Are a Super Food
Bananas are among the healthiest foods for your body and are recommended by most health care professionals as a safe, natural remedy for heartburn. In rare cases, however, bananas can have the opposite effect and cause heartburn shortly after consumption.
Bananas are loaded with of all kinds of good stuff that can benefit your body as well as your mind. They are high in potassium, which is an essential mineral for your muscles, including your heart. Bananas are also one of the only fruits that includes the entire range of B vitamins, which are necessary for proper cell formation, especially for nerve cells. A deficiency in B vitamins will adversely affect your mood; B vitamins help turn carbohydrates into glucose that gives your body energy. Low energy ultimately results in moodiness, which is often a sign of depression. It's key to note that bananas, which are abundant in sucrose, fructose and glucose---all natural sugars---are the No. 1 food choice before a workout due to the natural burst of energy they provide. Best of all is that bananas contain lots of fiber, which can help keep your digestive system running smoothly by pushing less digestible foods through to the bowels.
Why Is My Banana Giving Me Heartburn?
Heartburn is a painful condition where stomach acid bubbles back up your oesophagus and creates an uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest. The symptoms are often confused with those of a heart attack due to the tract of the stomach acid being near the heart. Certain foods, mostly those that are high in acid such as fatty foods and chocolate, will relax the sphincter (a muscle that can open and close) between your stomach and esophagus, allowing the acid to build up, while other foods such as coffee and spicy buffalo wings will irritate your esophagus on their own. Normally, a banana will act as an antacid by helping your stomach lining produce mucus, which can act as a barrier against stomach acid. However, a banana that isn't fully ripened---meaning there are still specs of green on the skin or the skin is bright yellow---has a high acid content, a pH of around 5, which is a lot more than most vegetables. A unripe banana has also has starches that haven't yet been converted to sugar and can be difficult to digest. Besides that, an unripe banana just doesn't taste very good. If you are eating a ripe banana and are still getting heartburn, you may be allergic to them---especially if the heartburn is combined with itching and swelling in your mouth. You also may have an allergy to latex. Bananas don't contain latex, but they do share the same kind of protein, along with avocados, that cause allergic reactions. Have your doctor refer you to an allergy specialist if you think this kind of allergy is keeping you from enjoying one of the best foods for you.
A Natural Heartburn Remedy
For the most part, you simply can't go wrong with eating a banana. Instead of reaching for the antacid tablets the next time you've outdone yourself on the chili and onion rings, try a banana for a sense of relief. It is the fruit found in most bland diets, due to its natural antacid effects, and it can help lift your spirits and possibly keep you from going...bananas.
