Short Answer: Squash is good for acid reflux. Because it has vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber and they can help heal the esophagus, reduce inflammation, balance the stomach acid, and promote digestion.
Acid reflux is a condition that affects your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.
In acid reflux, your body produces too much stomach acid or the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close properly.
This allows the acid to flow back into your esophagus, irritating its lining.
This can lead to various health problems, such as heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and esophageal cancer.
One of the key factors in managing acid reflux is diet.
What you consume can affect your esophageal pH, which can impact your acid reflux symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage acid reflux, you should consume alkaline-rich foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds and avoid acidic-rich foods like citrus, tomatoes, chocolate, garlic, onions, spicy or fatty foods.
Now, squash is a type of fruit that belongs to the gourd family.
People usually eat it cooked as a vegetable, either roasted, boiled, steamed, or mashed.
Squash is good for acid reflux because it contains vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
These nutrients can help heal the esophageal lining, reduce inflammation, balance the stomach acid, and promote digestion.
One cup of cooked squash can give you 457% of your daily vitamin A, 37% of your daily vitamin C, 17% of your daily potassium, and 10% of your daily fiber.
Vitamin A can help protect the esophageal cells from damage and prevent esophageal cancer.
Vitamin C can help boost the immune system and fight infections.
Potassium can help regulate the acid-base balance and prevent acid reflux.
Fiber can help prevent constipation and lower the pressure on the LES.
Furthermore, squash 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 squash per day safely
More than that can cause bloating, gas, or diarrhea.
Also, you shouldn’t eat squash if you have an allergy to it or if you are taking blood thinners to prevent bleeding.
Because, squash contains vitamin K, which can interfere with the blood clotting process.
You can buy fresh squash in your local market or can order it online.
Always choose squash that are firm, heavy, and free of cracks or bruises.
Because, these indicate the freshness and quality of the squash.
You can store them in a cool, dry place for up to a month.
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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.
