Why does heartburn and acidity occur even after eating fruits?

Fruits are no less than a boon for our health. Doctors always recommend including fruits rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants in your daily diet. But have you ever noticed why many times problems like heaviness in the stomach, gas, heartburn and acidity start occurring immediately after eating fruits which are considered healthy? When a person consumes fresh fruits to keep his digestive system healthy or to lose weight, and immediately after that he starts having sour belching or feels an unbearable burning sensation in the stomach, he is surprised. According to health experts, there are many scientific and physical reasons hidden behind it, about which common people have very little knowledge. Fruits naturally contain sugar (fructose), various types of acids and enzymes, which affect the digestive system of every person differently. If fruits are consumed at the wrong time, in the wrong combination or in the wrong way, they can become the main cause of acidity instead of improving health.

The biggest reason for acidity after eating fruits is the amount of citric acid, malic acid and ascorbic acid present in them. Citrus fruits like orange, lemon, lime, grapes, pineapple and kiwi are naturally highly acidic in nature. When people suffering from sensitive stomach or gastritis consume these citrus fruits on an empty stomach or immediately after a heavy meal, the acid level in the stomach suddenly increases, causing severe heartburn and acid reflux. Additionally, some people suffer from ‘fructose malabsorption’ or fructose intolerance, due to which their digestive system is unable to properly digest the natural sugar found in fruits. When undigested fructose reaches the large intestine, the bacteria present there ferment it, causing excessive gas, bloating and stomach cramps. Along with this, consuming fruits like watermelon, apple and pear at wrong time or with other heavy food also disturbs the entire functioning of the digestive system.

To take full advantage of the nutrients provided by fruits and to avoid problems like acidity, it is very important for us to make some important changes in our eating habits. The first rule is to never consume fruits immediately after or along with a heavy meal (lunch or dinner), because food takes time to digest and fruits get digested quickly and start rotting in the stomach, which produces gas. Always consume fruits at least one hour before or two-three hours after meals. Avoid eating excessively sour fruits on an empty stomach in the morning; Instead of this, consuming papaya, banana or sweet guava is considered very beneficial for the stomach. If your digestive system is extremely sensitive, make a habit of drinking lukewarm water after eating citrus fruits or eat them with black salt in the form of a salad. By adopting these small scientific precautions, you can strengthen your health through fruits without any acidity or stomach problems.