Rashidat Oladele
Claim: Banana can heal heartburn faster than anti acids
A pharmacist by the name of Dr. Angela PharmD claimed on her Instagram page that bananas are more effective than all anti-acids in treating heartburn. The video showed the pharmacist experiencing heartburn and then consuming bananas and water to lessen her stomach acid. Since then, the video has received 7,400,000 views, 78,500 likes, 57,100 comments, and 916 comments.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4btK8JPjYn/?igsh=MTFrY2tjNHpudW1lZw==
NatureNews, Africa’s foremost news publications which is dedicated to providing accurate insights to stop the spread of fake news particularly among users of social media, subjected the claim to fact checking.
Findings: Using the Google search tool in conducting this research, NatureFact, the fact checking unit of NatureNews, accessed a few papers and studies.
“Dr Dilip Todi, consultant, gastroenterologist, and hepatologist, Narayana Hospital, Howrah described heartburn as a common symptom characterised by a burning sensation in the chest, often caused by stomach acid refluxing into the esophagus.
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2017/foods-help-acid-reflux-fd.html
“This low-acid or alkaline fruit can help neutralize stomach acid by coating an irritated esophageal lining. And not only are bananas alkaline, they’re also rich in pectin — a soluble fiber that helps keeps food flowing nicely through the digestive tract. This can help you feel full longer, so you’re less likely to overeat.
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2017/foods-help-acid-reflux-fd.html
“Low-acid fruits coat the inflamed esophageal lining, helping to neutralize the acidity of the stomach. Bananas are high in pectin, a soluble fiber that facilitates smooth food passage through the digestive system, in addition to being alkaline. This may prolong your feeling of fullness and reduce your tendency to overeat.
Verdict:True
