In the United States, millions of people suffer from acid reflux, a painful condition in the throat and esophagus that results when stomach acid pushes up into the esophagus. The result is burning in the chest area and heartburn that can be so severe that it interferes with everyday living.
Allergies to Peanuts Can Make Acid Reflux Worse
Many people have found that when they eat peanuts, peanut butter, or foods with peanuts in them, their acid reflux symptoms are much worse. Doctors often advise patients not to eat peanuts because if they have a peanut allergy, they may have a worse episode of acid reflux.
Peanut Allergies Can Cause Digestive Tract Symptoms
People who suffer from both peanut allergies and acid reflux may not realize at first that their peanut allergy symptoms are showing up in the form of a bad case of acid reflux. Keeping a journal of foods that you eat will help you see the pattern that acid reflux symptoms worsen when you eat peanuts.
People often think of anaphylaxis, a serious, whole-body allergic reaction, when they think of a peanut allergy, but it can show up as acid reflux as well.
Soft Diet May Be Recommended For Acid Reflux
Acid reflux can cause the esophagus to become raw and sore from the stomach acid that backs up into this area. Doctors usually tell patients with severe acid reflux to eat soft foods in order to allow the esophagus to heal.
When nuts, popcorn, and crunchy foods are eaten, then can scratch the esophagus and cause more injury rather than allowing the esophagus to heal. This is another reason why peanuts should be avoided if you have acid reflux.
Peanuts Can Relax the Sphincter Muscle in the Esophagus
Some research has pointed to the fact that peanuts may relax the sphincter muscle in the esophagus. This results in foods not being able to reach the stomach. When this happens, acid from the stomach enters the esophagus and leads to acid reflux. It is best to buy foods without peanuts or to do peanut-free baking for cookies and sweets.
Doctors Tell Acid Reflux Patients to Avoid Fatty Foods
Almost every patient with acid reflux has been told to avoid fatty foods. This is because these foods take longer to digest and more stomach acid is required to digest them. Amazingly, walnuts actually improve acid reflux symptoms in many patients. This is because they are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help digestion and relieve acid reflux symptoms.
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