Is Kiwi Good for Acid Reflux? (Expert Answer)

Short Answer: Kiwi is good for acid reflux. Because it has vitamin C, fiber, and actinidin, and they can help protect, fill, and digest.

Acid reflux is a condition that affects your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.

In acid reflux, your stomach acid repeatedly flows back into your esophagus, irritating its lining.

This can lead to various health problems, such as heartburn, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, coughing, and dental erosion.

One of the key factors in managing acid reflux is diet.

What you consume can affect your lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that prevents stomach acid from flowing back up, which can impact your acid reflux symptoms and overall health.

To effectively manage acid reflux, you should consume high-fiber, alkaline, and watery foods like oatmeal, bananas, melons, and broth-based soups, and avoid fatty, spicy, acidic, and carbonated foods like fried food, pizza, tomato sauce, citrus fruits, chocolate, and soda.

Now, kiwi is a small, fuzzy fruit with green flesh and tiny black seeds.

People usually eat it raw, peeled or unpeeled, or add it to salads, smoothies, desserts, and other dishes.

Kiwi is good for acid reflux because it contains vitamin C, fiber, and actinidin.

One medium kiwi can give you 64 mg of vitamin C (71% of your daily needs), 2.1 g of fiber (8% of your daily needs), and 0.4 g of actinidin (a unique enzyme that helps digest protein).

Vitamin C can help boost your immune system and protect your esophagus from damage caused by stomach acid.

Fiber can help you feel full and prevent overeating, which can trigger acid reflux.

Actinidin can help you digest protein faster and reduce the amount of time food stays in your stomach, which can reduce acid reflux.

Furthermore, kiwi is a non-citrus fruit and non-citrus fruits are good for acid reflux.

Because, unlike citrus fruits, they do not contain citric acid, which can worsen acid reflux symptoms.

You can eat two to three kiwis per day safely.

More than that can cause diarrhea, gas, or allergic reactions.

Also, you shouldn’t eat kiwi if you have a latex allergy to prevent anaphylaxis.

Because kiwi contains proteins that are similar to those in latex and can cause a cross-reaction.

You can buy fresh kiwis in your local market or can order them online.

Always choose firm, plump, and unblemished kiwis.

Because they are more likely to be ripe and juicy.

You can store them at room temperature for up to a week or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

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.