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What isn't mentioned is that bananas and other potassium-rich foods are alkaline, and so can neutralize stomach acid reflux. Acid reflux is a common source of p
by randerson 2y ago
What isn't mentioned is that bananas and other potassium-rich foods are alkaline, and so can neutralize stomach acid reflux. Acid reflux is a common source of poor sleep quality. So that could be one explanation for the fewer sleep disturbances.
- rendaw 2y agoBananas have a pH of around 4.5 for unripe bananas to 6 for ripe bananas, so are acidic.
- randerson 2y agoHuh. I am admittedly neither a doctor nor chemist, but I was told this by a doctor, and anecdotally bananas seem to help me with reflux. Looking on the web, there does seem to be conflicting advice.
- seunosewa 2y agoThey are high in fibre and can thicken the fluid in the stomach. Maybe that's how they help.
- rendaw 2y agoI'd heard claims like that before and I was curious so I googled a bit more. It sounds like there's this thing "PRAL" or "potential renal acid load" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_renal_acid_load https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_renal_acid_load where the affect on stomach acid can be different from a food's pH. But again, the wikipedia article links to some random people's blogs and a single research article from 2019. I'm not sure if this is well supported by research.
- _yb2s 2y agoExactly- this is based on how it alters urine pH, and there is a whole alternative medicine thing around assuming this is extremely important- but the entire idea seems unconvincing to me. Both stomach and blood pH are carefully regulated by feedback control and don’t themselves change much based on foods.
- sandworm101 2y agoIt is extreemly important because it is easy to measure and varies wildly based on concious decisions: things that make it easier to sell the snake oil. Blood pressure is another. Many a "tonic" of flavored alcohol seemingly cured symptoms of high blood pressure... long enough to make the sale.
- _yb2s 2y agoI can see why the directly observable effect could help here, but what are these “alkaline diet” people selling exactly? I’ve mostly seen it just from individuals giving me unsolicited health advice. Also are these people really measuring the pH of their urine?
- saomcomrad56 2y agoIt depends. There are varieties of bananas & plantains that are high in latex, and can cause reflux and allergies for some people.
- thinkcontext 2y agoI assume 99% of the bananas consumed in the US are Cavendish.
- davzie 2y agoReflux is solved by MORE acidity or promotion of stomach acid. Lower stomach acid PH means the LES doesn’t close properly. Seems counter intuitive but took me 8 years of symptoms to discover.
- nosefurhairdo 2y agoI think this is true for a long term solution, but the standard treatment to alleviate symptoms of reflux is to consume antacids, so I think parent's point is still valid.
- mircea 2y ago> Lower stomach acid PH means the LES doesn’t close properly I don't think that's correct. Lower stomach acid pH makes the LES close more tightly, with a max around pH==3.
- davzie 2y agoWhen I said lower stomach acid I meant in quantity, not acidity, you're right!
- bbstats 2y agoSo proton pump inhibitors don't work? Nah
- davzie 2y agoThey have long term health consequences and reduce your stomach acid quantity enough that the acid doesn't make it's way back up the throat. So it's masking the root cause. The knock-on effect of taking PPIs or H2-blockers is that you end up with lower acidity which means worse food digestion which means being more prone to bugs and bacteria in food not being wiped out before it gets to the small intestine where it can cause bigger issues like SIBO. Having the right amount of stomach acid and low PH is crucial to keep the whole digestive system, gut motility and more running properly.
- 2y ago
- readyplayernull 2y agoIf reflux is the issue follow these tips: 1) Don't drink while eating or exercising, drink 30min before or 2 hours later. 2) Don't lay on your belly while sitting, use your back to support your upper body. 3) Drink just as much water as your body asks, but not more. 4) Right before going to bed, don't drink and try using the bathroom.
- CoffeeOnWrite 2y agoHow about digestive bitters?
- portaouflop 2y agoAlcohol is bad in general no matter the ailment
- CoffeeOnWrite 2y agoDigestive bitters can also be glycerites. And probably oils even.
- bean-weevil 2y agoI'm having trouble understanding point 2. What does it mean for one to lay on their belly while sitting? That doesn't seem possible.
- ubercore 2y agoSlouching forward, crunching up your stomach and resting your weight on it. In other words, good posture.
- mircea 2y agoAcid reflux is due to too low stomach acid (too high pH). The lower esophageal sphincter closing as a response to acid (pH) is documented in the literature.
- swsieber 2y agoWhenever I see discussions of GERD I like to bring up this paper (and the reedit discussion around it) where they basically tried a supplement with every likely helper and it worked 100% of the time: https://www.reddit.com/r/GERD/comments/adt6vh/regression_of_gastroesophageal_reflux_disease/ https://www.reddit.com/r/GERD/comments/adt6vh/regression_of_... | The aim of this study was to investigate if a dietary supplementation containing: melatonin, l-tryptophan, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, methionine and betaine would help patients with GERD, | All patients of the group A (100%) reported a complete regression of symptoms after 40 days of treatment. On the other hand, 115 subjects (65.7%) of the omeprazole reported regression of symptoms in the same period