Papaya For Heartburn And Indigestion
Q. Ive found that a couple of slices of ripe papaya calms heartburn. They also provide a little fresh fruit to the diet. Papaya enzyme tablets work, but the fresh papaya is a better choice for me.
A. A doctor first reported the benefits of papain, an enzyme from papaya fruit, for treating heartburn in The British Medical Journal on April 3, 1886. Dr. George Herschell was a physician practicing in London during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was an expert on heartburn. His book, INDIGESTION: The Diagnosis and Treatment of the Functional Derangements of the Stomach, was published in 1905.
It May Reduce Pain And Inflammation
According to an article in Nutrition Review, research has shown proteolytic enzymes help reduce inflammation as well as or better than some anti-inflammatory drugs. However, clinical research in people is limited.
Because of these potential beneficial effects papain and other proteolytic enzymes are sometimes use to help with wound healing and to decrease swelling after an injury or trauma.
How to use: If youre interested in trying papain, talk with your doctor first. Your doctor can recommend the best approach for treating wounds, pain, or swelling after an injury or surgery. Papain supplements can interact with certain medications, so dont skip consulting your doctor.
of studies also concluded papain is effective and safe in treating many types of wounds in various stages of healing. Most of the research is still preliminary.
Despite these positive findings, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered companies to stop marketing unapproved topical papain products due to some people experiencing a life-threatening allergic reaction upon use. You should talk with your doctor about your individual risk of allergic reaction before use.
How to use: Papain salves and creams are available online and in some natural health stores. Use as directed under your doctors supervision. If youve had an allergic reaction to papaya or latex, dont use these products. If youre not sure, talk with your doctor about doing a patch test.
- throat irritation or damage
- allergic reaction
Papain May Help With Heartburn
Q: I have read your articles about various ways to treat heartburn naturally. What I have found most helpful are chewable papaya enzymes.
A: We have heard from other readers that chewing a tablet with papain, an enzyme from the tropical fruit papaya, can help with heartburn. Although we could find no recent scientific research supporting this natural approach, we did locate an article in the British Medical Journal from April 3, 1886. A physician writing about acid reflux noted that this drug papain is extremely valuable in this form of indigestion.
Papain is found in powdered meat tenderizer because it breaks down proteins. Anyone who is allergic to latex should steer clear of papaya enzymes, though, as they might cause an allergic reaction.
Q: I take several medications, so I was pleased to learn that the herb milk thistle may reduce the liver toxicity of certain drugs.
When purchasing the herb, however, I got confused. Its available in various strengths, and the dosing instructions seem inconsistent. I dont want to take too much.
A: The dosage varies depending upon the purpose for which milk thistle is being used. For general liver protection, 200 milligrams of an extract standardized to 80% silymarin is taken two or three times a day.
ConsumerLab.com recently found that relatively few milk thistle products meet the claims on their labels. Details are available for a fee at www.consumerlab.com.
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Papaya Enzymes For Acid Reflux
Since well before the advent of modern medicine, people used plants and other nature-derived remedies to treat and cure all sorts of maladies and illnesses. Papaya, a fruit grown in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia and the Americas, has long been purported to aid the digestive tract. Supporters assert that papaya enzymes ease the indigestion and heartburn experienced with acid reflux, but evidence proving these claims is lacking.
I Hope This Helps You
As a mom who has battled heartburn and acid reflux in pregnancy before, I really hope this blog can help you in alleviating your heartburn discomfort! As a doula, I am not a medical professional and you should be sure to check in with your care provider if you have any questions about heartburn treatments.
Jenni Jenkins Sekine is an Oklahoma Bereavement, Birth, & Postpartum Doula and Child Birth Educator who serves her Central Oklahoma community. She is also a midwifery assistant with Holistic Birthing Services and began her journey as a student midwife with the Midwives College of Utah in 2022.
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Acid Reflux Also Known As Heart Burn Is A Chronic Condition In Which Acid Or Bile Flows From The Food Pipe Into The Stomach Irritating Its Inner Lining
- Sunayana Ponnappa
Acid reflux may get triggered in different people by different foods and drinks. The cause is often attributed to an individual’s lifestyle but might also be a result of hiatal hernia. In this condition there is a hole in the diaphragm which allows the upper part of the stomach enter the chest cavity, this leads to GERD. The reflux may also be caused by pregnancy as the internal organs suffer from extra pressure. Alcohol, caffeine, low dietary fibre intake, smoking, lack of exercise and high intake of table salt, are a few of the other reasons for acid reflux.According to Dr Rommel Tickoo, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, Acid reflux can be done away with by avoiding spicy/ citrus foods and picking items that help neutralise the excess acid instead. Go for smaller meals because large meals fill the stomach and put pressure on the intra-abdominal segment , making reflux and GERD more likely. One has to keep a check on weight since extra stomach fat places pressure on the abdomen, thereby pushing gastric juices up into the esophagus.Here are a few fruits which can help reduce the effects of acid reflux:1. Banana Yellow bananas are a source of potassium, fibre, vitamin C, antioxidants and phytonutrients. The fibres in bananas improve the digestion and reduce the reflux.
Papain From Papaya Reduces Ulcers
Ulcers are one of the most painful conditions accompanied by heartburn.
They are caused by excessive acid exposure in the oesophagus and stomach, creating lesions in the gut wall.
A study on rats demonstrated that papain from papaya in the form of papaya latex or papaya juice can treat ulcers easily and effectively in very less time.
This is mostly mediated by the reduction in amounts of acid secretion in the stomach which reduces the chances of damage in the gut wall due to excessive acid exposure .
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Papain In Papaya Ease Heartburn By Dissolving Protein
Papaya is an excellent treatment for digestive disorders and extremely useful for any disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract. Papain, the powerful enzyme in papaya, helps to dissolve and digest protein, thus easing stomach ailments and indigestion. Because papain breaks down tough meat fibers, it is often used in restaurants and is the major ingredient in commercial meat tenderizers!
Other benefits includes:
The papain in papaya is currently undergoing studies to investigate its efficacy in treating the herpes simplex virus and herpes zoster . Another papayan enzyme, chymopapain, has been used in the treatment of slipped spinal disc and pinched nerves.
Extracts of the pulp of papaya fruit have showed bacteriostatic properties when tested against Staphylococcus aureua, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis and other bacteria in vitro. Since many stomach problems are the direct result of indigestion, use of Papaya appears to help prevent many ailments. It stimulates digestive acids and the production of bile, which may also lead to a healthier liver and pancreas.
Papaya is said to have compounds that act as the female hormone, estrogen and has been used in folk medicine to promote milk production, facilitate childbirth and increase the female libido. In some parts of the world, it is used to induce menstruation and is considered a uterine stimulant.
Papaya And Heartburn Treatment
Carica papaya L. or more commonly known as papaya or pawpaw is a tropical fruit widely grown across the world.
Apart from its use as raw sweet fruit and as an edible in cooking, its fruit and other plant parts are also consumed widely for its medicinal properties.
Its roots and leaves are used for their diuretic properties, seed, and leaves as an anti-helminthic consumable and fruit for treatment of bilious conditions .
Papaya leaves and fruits have certain medicinal components that act specifically on the gastrointestinal tract to relieve the gut-associated disorders including heartburn.
Analysis of individual components of the leaves and fruits has confirmed the therapeutic properties of the same.
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What Are The Benefits Of Papaya For Your Health
1. Papaya relieves bloating and constipation. “The reason papaya is good for gut health is mainly due to the enzyme papain that helps with digestion, digestion of proteins,” Perdomo explains, adding that it works so well that papain is often sold as a supplement for digestion to help with bloating and heartburn. “I grew up eating fresh papaya all the time in Panama and find that it helps with staying regular and preventing constipation,” she says.
2. Papaya has fiber. Another reason why papaya is so great for gut health is because of all its glorious fiber. Half of a large papaya has about 7 grams of it, which is nearly 30 percent of what you should be eating every day. Getting enough fiber is crucial for keeping your digestive tract running properly. It’s also good for metabolism and fighting inflammation.
3. It’s an anti-inflammatory fruit. Perdomo also points out that, like most fruits, papaya is full of antioxidants, which protect the body from free radicals to fight inflammation. One study performed on rats found that papaya extract helped decrease oxidative stress in the liver, stomach, and kidneys.
4. Papaya is hydrating. “Papaya is full of water,” Perdomo says, acknowledging the fruit’s hydrating benefits. In fact, papayas are 85 to 89 percent water, which is especially handy in the summer when hydration is extra important.
More fruits worth your attention: pears and strawberries.
Do Supplements Help Heartburn
Sometimes the body doesnt make enough digestive enzymes. This can slow the digestion process and lead to uncomfortable symptoms.
Would a digestive enzyme supplement help treat the symptoms of occasional heartburn, caused by acid reflux, slow stomach emptying, or an unknown reason ? The answer is that we dont know. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that OTC digestive enzymes are helpful for heartburn, says Dr. Staller.
But we do know that OTC digestive enzymes can help manage other conditions. For example, if you dont make enough of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase, needed to digest the sugar in beans, you may benefit from taking an alpha-galactosidase supplement .
Or if you dont make enough of the enzyme lactase, needed to digest lactose the sugar in milk and milk-based products you may benefit by taking a lactase supplement . If you dont have lactase, the undigested lactose goes to the colon, which leads to more fluid entering the colon and more gas produced by bacteria in the colon. That creates bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea, explains Dr. Staller. A supplement might help.
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Berries: Delicious Nutritious Plus Low Acid Content
Berries are nutritional powerhouses, with some of the highest antioxidant levels of any fresh fruit. And they can be high in Ph, too, and potentially tolerated if you have acid reflux especially blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Tip: buy strawberries organic, because they topped the Environmental Working Groups Dirty Dozen list of most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables in 2018.
Expert Opinion From Deekshita Girkala
M.SC Nutrition & Dietetics · 2 years of experience · India
Papaya has a pH of 5.5 to 5.9 which falls under slightly acidic fruit compared to many other tropical fruits. However, the vitamin-c content of papaya can cause mild heart burn but in very rare cases. Besides, packed, canned and processed papaya fruit, pulp and juice definitely has higher acidity due to the addition of preservatives. Thus, papaya should be consumed fresh to have maximum beneficial properties.
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Can You Eat Papaya Seeds
You definitely can. If you’re interested in trying papaya seeds, be prepared that they’re not going to taste like the delicious fruit you’re also eating. I’ve never eaten papaya seeds, but many people say that the black seeds taste like pepper, from what I can tell.
If you love pepper, then you may love this. In some countries, people use papaya seeds in place of peppercorns in many dishes.
What Country Produces The Most Papayas
Even though papayas are said to have originated in Southern Mexico, Mexico is no longer the largest producer of papayas in the world. The country that leads the world in papaya production is India. Following behind India are Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Mexico.
If you’re wondering where the United States falls on the global papaya production map, they only account for about 0.1% of the world’s papaya crops.
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Halt Heartburn With Papaya Enzyme
If you wish to gobble that bowl of curry noodles in five minutes, heartburn and indigestion may stop you from doing so. If that burning pressure in your chest is unbearable, you may try a natural remedy papaya enzymes. Papayas encourage digestion, eases indigestion , and is known to relieve heartburn. The magic is in the enzymes papain and chyomopapain, which break down proteins and soothe the stomach by promoting a healthy acidic environment.
You can reap the benefits by eating fresh papaya or drinking fresh juice, but these options are not always convenient when heartburn hits. Also, eating unripe papaya may lead to uterine contractions making the fruit off-limits for the many pregnant women who suffer from heartburn. Papaya enzymes supplements that contain papain, amylase, and protease enzyme may be a convenient solution for you.
Why Papaya For Heartburn Is Surprisingly Helpful
Papaya was once considered an exotic fruit. You had to visit a tropical country to find it. Now, fresh papaya can be found in most food markets. You can purchase papaya enzymes in tablet form in health food stores and pharmacies. We always love it when one of our readers stumbles upon a home remedy and shares his success. In this case, though, papaya for heartburn has been appreciated for more than 100 years. Even doctors have reported success with papaya.
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Eat Smaller Sized Meals Throughout The Day
One of the biggest reasons you may get heartburn during pregnancy is because your growing baby and uterus is pressing on your stomach. Eating big meals when you have a whole, little human pressing on your insides can cause some pretty awful acid reflux and heartburn. This is why eating smaller more frequent meals throughout the day can decrease your chances of having heartburn or acid reflux in pregnancy. Getting small snacks in throughout the day may also help with maintaining even levels of blood sugar.
A Fruit For Heartburn
Posted on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 9:56 am
Friday night lights have always made people in The South feel good. So good we find ourselves drawn to the concession stand ordering Frito pies, turkey legs, sausage on a stick, nachos, and chili dogs Oh, and dont forget the Coke! For 3 hours we down fatty, greasy food in record time so our hands are free to cheer for our team.
Then it hits you as you are leaving the stadium. Your body just cant handle greasy food the way it did in your youth, and a burning pressure begins to rise in your chest. If you arent a fan of stopping at your nearest corner store to grab a pack of Tums or Alka-Seltzer, this natural remedy may be for you! Instead of going down to the pharmacy, swing by the grocery aisles and pick yourself up papaya!
Why papaya? The magic is in the papayas enzymes papain and chymopapain, which break down proteins and soothe the stomach by promoting a healthy acidic environment. Who wouldve thought that this fruit could do so much?
Though papaya was once considered a tropical fruit you had to travel to enjoy, it can now be found in most food markets. You can purchase papaya enzymes in tablet form in health food stores and pharmacies. Do you know of any other natural ways to relieve heartburn? If so, share them in our group on Facebook!
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Best Home Remedies For Acidity: If You Complain Of Acidity And Heartburn Regularly You Can Get Rid Of The Condition By Eating Certain Fruits Herbs And Dairy Products And By Avoiding Unhealthy Junk Food Heres What You Need To Know
Acidity or acid reflux is a familiar digestive complaint that most of us choose to ignore unless it causes a lot of pain or discomfort. Some of its most common symptoms are heartburn or a burning pain and regurgitation or bitter-tasting acid in your throat or mouth, bloating, hiccups, weight loss without reason and nausea.
Acidity can happen when the lower oesophageal sphincter , a valve located at the entrance to your stomach, doesnt close all the way through or opens too often, causing acid produced by the stomach to move up into the oesophagus. Stress, eating an unhealthy diet, and drinking excess alcohol can also cause acidity.
Here are some home remedies to treat the condition:
* Eating papayascan keep you safe from acidity as it contains the papain enzyme, which helps in improving digestion. Its fibre content also clears the stomach of toxins.
* Bananas are also good for your stomach. They have inflammatory properties and can reduce bloating in the intestines. Its fibre content ensures that movement in the intestines is smooth.
* Plants and herbs are also useful in reducing acidity. While Aloe Vera juice can soothe the stomach lining, mint can offer relief from reflux.
* Citrus fruits like orange and lemon are alkaline and can neutralize the acidity in the stomach.
* Coconut water is rich in fibre and great for detoxification of the body. It can also help with smooth bowel movements.
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