What is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux and oranges
often appear together when people talk about the
treatment for acid reflux, and while some
encourage its consumption, others put it down. The
medical condition in which the esophageal lining
is exposed to reflux or backward flow of gastric
acids is known as acid reflux. The various
symptoms of acid reflux include heartburn,
regurgitation, dental erosion, hoarseness, chest
pain, asthma and dysphagia.
When people experience the problem
of acid reflux on a regular basis, the condition
is called as GERD or gastro-esophageal
reflux disease. The causative factors of GERD or
acid reflux are multiple and include dietary
intake of excessive fatty foods, chocolates and
caffeine, excess alcohol, smoking, pregnancy,
obesity, lifestyle patterns, genetic tendency,
Candida infections and postponed stomach emptying.
Acid Reflux and
Oranges
Orange is a citrus fruit. And by their
very nature, citrus fruits tend to be
acid-forming. In many patients, symptoms of acid
reflux worsened on consumption of orange because
of this reason.
However, orange
peels have been found to be useful in
treatment of acid
reflux. These are a safe and effective
alternative to antacids that are available over
the counter. The orange peels are bitter in taste
and have digestive properties. The digestive
bitters in the orange peels are good for the
digestive system and they enhance and improve the
process of digestion while maintaining the balance
in the body. Excessive acid production is
controlled as the digestion process is quickened.
The main ingredient in the extract of orange peels
is a chemical compound called d-Limonene. The
chemical formula of d-Limonene is
1-Methyl-4-Isopropenyl-1-Cyclohexene and it is a
liquid with lemon-like smell. This compound is FDA
approved and can be used as a food additive. It is
also included in the Generally Recognized as Safe
List of FDA and has primary uses as a flavoring
ingredient.
Research and studies have been
conducted by EPA and d-Limonene has been found to
be quite effective in treating acid reflux and
heartburn.
So, it is up to you to decide from your
personal experience as to whether oranges should
be a part of your acid reflux diet or not.
Complete avoidance of citrus fruits, especially
lemons and oranges, is not encouraged, as acid
reflux can trigger esophageal cancer which is
significantly controlled by citrus
fruits.
Holistic Approach to Acid
Reflux
Elimination/inclusion of oranges in
your diet is only a small part of the more
comprehensive solution that is entailed by a
severe acid reflux
condition.
Acid reflux can become a serious
condition in many patients and hence, necessary
treatment should be administered on time. There
are many treatments and medications available for
treating acid reflux and these include acid
suppressants, prokinetic agents, proton pump
inhibitors and antacids. Majority of the
medications and over the counter medicines and
tablets do relieve the symptoms of GERD
temporarily, but may not offer relief on long term
basis and hence, the disease keeps recurring. The
root cause of the problem remains untreated, which
can be treated only through the holistic approach.
Long term use of these medications may
be accompanied with side effects and unwanted
health consequences as well.
The holistic approach encompasses home
remedies, herbal remedies, dietary changes,
lifestyle alterations and body detoxification
processes, and it has been found to be more safe
and effective than conventional treatment. The
disease of acid reflux can be treated successfully
with holistic treatment and its recurrence can be
prevented to a large extent, as the root cause of
GERD is removed.
