Against acid reflux, heartburn and associated symptoms such as bloating we have some foods on our side, considered capable of neutralizing hyperacidity and restoring balance at the gastric level. But what are these alkalizing foods? We talk about it on the basis of a very interesting scientific research, published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine by an Indian team (Panda et al, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2017).
Stomach hyperacidity, symptoms and causes
Stomach hyperacidity, or acid reflux, is a very common disorder that causes heartburn, abdominal pain, a burning sensation in the chest, but also bloating, flatulence, lack of appetite and poor digestion. Several factors contribute to the development of this disorder, such as anxiety and stress, alcohol consumption and smoking, eating at irregular hours or fasting, performing little physical activity, but also obesity and a high use of some drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Stomach hyperacidity can worsen quality of life and interfere with daily activities. There are several drugs on the market to combat this condition. However, people don't always want to resort to medicines, also due to the presence of side effects. Luckily, there are some foods with an alkalizing action, i.e. capable of neutralizing the hyperacidity of the stomach, protecting the gastric mucosa and improving the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract. Tradition indicates as possible allies against stomach hyperacidity certain foods, such as milk, broccoli, lemon and cucumber. The study we are talking about today sheds light on this topic by testing the real alkalizing action of these foods.
Foods against stomach hyperacidity, the study
The study took place in the laboratory using an artificial stomach model. The alkalizing action of foods was evaluated in relation to water, whose neutral pH and ability to dilute gastric juices bring relief in case of heartburn, to sodium bicarbonate, famous for neutralizing hyperacidity, and to a known antacid available on the market. The foods tested were some vegetables of the cruciferous family, such as kale and broccoli, cucumber, radish, lemon, milk and curd. What emerged is that, apart from lemon, all the other foods tested were able to neutralize the hyperacidity of the stomach with a significantly higher action than that of water. Not only that, the anti-acid action was also more lasting than that induced by water. Among the various foods tested, those most able to neutralize hyperacidity were broccoli and cold milk, with an action comparable to that of bicarbonate and antacid.
Conclusions
Eating is therefore important against acid reflux and heartburn! You just have to pay attention to including in your healthy and balanced diet some foods that more than others have proven capable of neutralizing the hyperacidity of the stomach. Broccoli, eaten both cooked and raw, reduces acid reflux, aids digestion and is alkaline. Milk, as well as its derivatives, instead contains calcium which prevents hyperacidity and absorbs the excess acid produced. If the milk is drunk cold then the relief action in case of stomach hyperacidity is immediate. The other alkalizing foods were, according to the study, kale, which contains calcium and sulfur, useful for reducing stomach hyperacidity, cucumber, which, thanks to its high water content, about 95%, dilutes gastric juices and temporarily increases the pH of the stomach, as well as helping the body to detoxify, and radish, which contains substances that reduce acidity levels in the stomach. The study did not observe an alkalizing action of the lemon, it is believed because the pure lemon was studied. Instead, drinking water to which a little lemon juice has been added has an antacid action, as the study authors themselves add.
