This low-acid food could relieve heartburn in less than a minute, says Dr. Joseph Salhab, gastroenterologist specializing in reflux.
Often temporary but painful, heartburn is characterized by a feeling of sourness and pain in the pit of the stomach, usually after a meal rich in fat or too spicy, but also the night, favored by the lying position. Sometimes this burn caused by irritating acid reflux may spread to the back of the breastbone or into the throat causing difficulty swallowing or a feeling of having a “lump in the throat”. 30% of people regularly experience heartburn and 5 to 10% of adults suffer from it on a daily basis, reports the American Hospital of Paris. When gastric juices regularly flow back into the esophagus, we speak of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can cause inflammation (reflux esophagitis), even in the long term, an ulcer.
“My heartburn completely disappeared and never came back“
In addition to antacid medications (type Maalox®, Omeprazole or Gaviscon®) intended to treat heartburn and acid reflux, diet plays a big role in relieving heartburn. In a video posted on TikTokDr. Joseph Salhab (aka TheStomachDoc), a gastroenterologist expert in reflux, revealed the best food which, according to him, helps relieve acid reflux in less than 30 seconds: banana, “a low acid food and alkalizingwhat soothes the irritated lining of the esophagus“, explains the gastroenterologist. “I took a banana and ate it, and within 30 seconds my heartburn was completely gone and never came back“, he declares in his video. By providing us with the right minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, etc.), alkalizing foods have the power to combat body acidity by restoring pH from our body and are easily eliminated by the body. During their digestion, the transformation of these foods by the body does not release acidic compounds either.
Dr. Salhab also listed other low acid and alkalizing foods like walnuts and almondspotato, green vegetables such as broccoli and the kale. On the other hand, foods which promote acidity in the body are for example cold meats, tomatoes, coffee, spices (chili pepper, paprika, etc.), alcohol, processed products, meats or sweet products and it is better to limit their consumption.