As trans fat becomes outmoded, tropical oils rich in saturated fat content unveiled their importance all over again. In recent years, the popularity of coconut oil has soared due to touted health benefits.
Coconut oil is 100% fat, wherein 80 to 90% is saturated fat. It contains no cholesterol, no fiber, and only traces of vitamins, minerals, and plant sterols.
When it comes to acid reflux, coconut oil is not advised, but virgin coconut oil is believed to provide huge relief.
What Is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux occurs when stomach content flows back up into the esophagus. It is also called acid indigestion or gastroesophageal reflux. When the condition is chronic, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Generally, acid reflux develops when the lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak. It can happen if you are-
- Overweight or obese
- Pregnant
- Heavy or passive smoker
Acid Reflux is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in the US. However, dietary and lifestyle changes have proved to be as effective as medication among people with this illness.
Coconut Oil For Acid Reflux
Opinions about coconut oil and its relation to acid reflux vary contradictorily.
A- Coconut Oil May Trigger Acid Reflux.
It is believed that different factors can trigger acid reflux, and a high-fat diet like coconut oil is one of them.
Since coconut oil is 100% fat, the majority of which is saturated, it may cause acid reflux in some. Besides acid reflux, it may also have an unhealthy effect on the heart and blood vessels.
Often, the small amount of unsaturated fat present in coconut oil is hydrogenated to extend its shelf life. This process creates trans fat in coconut oil, which should be avoided.
Due to this trans fat, American Heart Association issued an advisory to replace saturated fats like coconut oil with unsaturated fats like nuts, avocados, seeds, and fish.
B- Virgin Coconut Oil Provides Relief In Acid Reflex.
Coconut milk undergoes a heating process during the manufacture of normal coconut oil. However, in the case of virgin coconut oil, coconut milk is cold-processed, exterminating heating elements during the extraction process.
It helps virgin coconut oil preserve the virtues of coconut milk, ensuring its natural goodness remains intact.
Due to this, only virgin coconut oil is found to be beneficial for acid reflux.
Normal coconut oil is hydrogenated and contains some trans-fat. But, virgin coconut oil has no trans fat and is rich in short and medium-chain fatty acids- everything good for health.
How To Use Virgin Coconut Oil For Acid Reflux?
Tropical countries often rely on coconut oil to relieve heartburn and gas pain. Generally, it is used in two ways-
1. Topically- For topical application, you need to extract oil from the coconut fruit via local practices. It involves the following steps-
- Take a mature coconut fruit and grate its pulp.
- Squeeze the grated pulp to remove the coconut milk.
- Strain the extracted milk and ensure it doesn’t have any solids left.
- Cook this milk on a low flame until the milk evaporates, leaving oil behind.
This oil will now be used as a liniment for relieving acid reflux by inducing the person to belch.
2. Ingestion- Ingesting virgin coconut oil is one of the safest and most effective ways of getting relief from acid reflux. You can get virgin coconut oil through the following process-
- Grate the pulp of mature coconut fruit and squeeze it to extract coconut milk.
- Strain the coconut milk and place it in a container for at least 48 hours.
- Cream, water, and oil will separate naturally.
The oil obtained in this way is the purest or virgin coconut oil, which is not exposed to any heat treatment. It has short or medium-chain fatty acids. Shorter chains allow faster metabolism and are associated with high anti-oxidation capacity.
Additionally, it is a potent antioxidant and a rich source of nutrients and healthy fats.
How To Reduce Acid Reflux?
According to research, a diet can significantly reduce the severity of acid reflux symptoms. Besides, lifestyle changes can also help substantially.
- Avoid smoking and caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks.
- Identify foods that trigger acid reflux in your body and avoid them completely.
- Do not go to bed immediately after having a heavy meal.
- Indulge in a minimum of 30-40 minutes of exercise every day.
- Maintain a healthy BMI (body mass index).
Most of the time, combining these efforts proves to be as beneficial as medications like antacids used to fight acid reflux.
[ Read: How Long Does Acid Reflux Take To Heal? ]
Final Words
Acid reflux is a common disorder and can happen at any age. Different factors can trigger or aggregate acid reflux. Even though there is no proven GERD diet, one needs to keep track of their triggers to manage reflux.
Often, a small change in diet can lead to a huge improvement in symptoms.
People who experience symptoms of acid reflux more than twice a week should consult the doctor and plan changes in their diet. It will help keep acid reflux under control and manage the inferno burning in the chest.
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