Autumn is that time of the year when you find delicious pumpkins in every grocery store or farmers market. These pumpkins are the perfect dishes for thanksgiving, but you may want to know if they are a good option for your acid reflux diet. Read on to find out.
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Do Pumpkins Cause Acid Reflux?
Pumpkin may be one of your best foods, but you may be heartbroken to find out that it can trigger symptoms of GERD.
The pH of pumpkin is about 4.9, meaning it is acidic but not at the level of tomato-based products. However, it also can increase the amount of acid in your stomach. When stomach acid builds up, they tend to flow back up the esophagus and causes uncomfortable symptoms like that burning sensation in the chest.
Though it is acidic, it poses a lesser risk of acid reflux because it is one of the high-fiber foods that help the digestive tract. It is also suitable for your acid reflux-balanced diet because it has low fat and can counter the fatty foods you consume to encourage weight loss. Fatty meats and other high-fat foods could cause symptoms of acid reflux because they are hard to break down, and you may have digestive problems that increase the risk of heartburn.
Pumpkins also have high water content and help keep you hydrated. Though pumpkin has acid production properties, its water content could reduce the frequency of acid reflux symptoms and aid digestion.
Read also: Can GERD cause sleep apnea?
How To Eat Pumpkin With Acid Reflux
Pumpkins are acidic fruits, but you may be able to eat them while managing acid reflux. The best way to incorporate pumpkin into your acid reflux diet is to eat it in moderation and balance it with acid-reducing foods like leafy veggies, broccoli, and green beans.
You should also avoid pumpkin foods that are high in fat because such foods are hard to digest. You should not eat pumpkin spice lattes and foods that trigger heartburn symptoms. Ensure you cook your pumpkin by steaming, roasting, or pureeing it into soups.
However, if you have severe acid reflux symptoms, you should take mushrooms in small amounts and notice how your body reacts to them. Pumpkin may be your best food, but it is best to avoid it and contact your healthcare provider if these symptoms persist after you eat it in moderation.
Read also: Does Cauliflower Cause Acid Reflux?
Is Pumpkin Seed Oil Acidic?
Pumpkin seed oil is a great cooking oil for salad dressings and a suitable alternative to canola oil. Since pumpkins are acidic, you may wonder if pumpkin seed oil is also in the same category.
With a pH of around 6.0, the pumpkin seed oil is acidic but not at the level of the regular pumpkin. It can trigger GERD symptoms, so you should take it in moderation.
Is Pumpkin Seed Acidic?
Since pumpkin and pumpkin seed oil is acidic, you may be thinking pumpkin seed oil should also have a similar pH. However, pumpkin seeds are surprisingly alkaline foods and are good snacks for people managing acid reflux symptoms.
Pumpkin seeds have a pH of around 9.0 when dried and unroasted, but they have a pH of 6.31 when you roast them.
Read also: Is Lentil Soup Good For Acid Reflux?
What Is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux, also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is a medical condition that occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak and prevents the acidic contents of your stomach from flowing to your esophagus. Signs of acid reflux include occasional heartburn and chest pain, and you may require medical attention if these signs occur regularly.
The acid reflux diet requires lifestyle changes, including choosing low-fat and high-fiber foods while avoiding acidic foods, high-fat foods, citrus fruits, and spicy foods.
Read also: Can Chiropractic Help Acid Reflux?
Does Pumpkin Cause Acid Reflux Summary
Pumpkins may be acidic, but they are beneficial to people who manage acid reflux symptoms. These symptoms vary in different people, but you should eat pumpkins in moderation.
If pumpkins are a part of your diet, ensure you eat them with low-acid foods to reduce the amount of stomach acid it produces. While you eat them, observe how your body reacts. You should consult your doctor if these reactions continue in the long term.
