Short Answer: Cherry is good for acid reflux. Because it has antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber and they can help reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and stomach acidity.
Acid reflux is a condition that affects your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.
In acid reflux, your lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a ring of muscle that acts as a valve between the esophagus and stomach, does not close properly or opens too often.
This allows stomach acid or bile to flow back into your esophagus, causing irritation, inflammation, and heartburn.
This can lead to various health problems, such as esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer.
One of the key factors in managing acid reflux is diet.
What you consume can affect your stomach acidity, which can impact your acid reflux symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage acid reflux, you should consume alkaline-rich foods like bananas, melons, and oatmeal and avoid acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, and chocolate.
Now, cherry is a small stone fruit that comes in sweet and tart varieties.
People usually eat cherries fresh, dried, frozen, or canned.
Cherries are also used to make juices, jams, pies, and other desserts.
Cherry is good for acid reflux because it contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the esophagus and stomach.
Cherries are also a good source of vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and other nutrients that can support your digestive and immune health.
One cup (154 grams) of sweet, raw, pitted cherries can give you 18% of your daily vitamin C, 10% of your daily potassium, 3 grams of fiber, and 97 calories.
Vitamin C can help protect your esophageal cells from damage caused by stomach acid and bile.
Potassium can help regulate your stomach acidity and prevent acid reflux episodes.
Fiber can help improve your bowel movements and prevent constipation, which can worsen acid reflux.
Calories can provide you with energy and prevent overeating, which can also trigger acid reflux.
Furthermore, cherry is a low-acid food and low-acid foods are good for acid reflux.
Because, they can help neutralize the stomach acid and prevent it from refluxing into the esophagus.
You can eat one to two cups of cherries per day safely.
More than that can cause bloating, gas, or diarrhea, which can aggravate your acid reflux symptoms.
Also, you shouldn’t eat cherries if you have an allergy to them or to other fruits in the same family, such as peaches, plums, and apricots.
This can prevent an allergic reaction, which can cause swelling, itching, or difficulty breathing.
You can buy fresh cherries in your local market or can order them from online.
Always choose cherries that are firm, plump, and shiny.
Because, they are the freshest and most nutritious.
You can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a year.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing acid reflux effectively.
I always recommend my acid reflux patients to follow an acid reflux-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.