Using Coconut for Acid Reflux Relief

Coconuts grow in abundance in tropical countries like the Philippines. People in these areas found plenty of uses for coconuts from its trunk, leaves and fruits. Not a single part of the coconut plant is wasted as all of it has specific uses. Recent developments have brought the attention of Americans to the medical values of the coconut fruit. In the past years, clinical studies showed that components of the coconut have remarkable effects as antihistamines, anti-infectives/antiseptics, enhances and strengthens the immune system as well as a glucocortcoid antagonist. Recently, coconuts are also found to be effective in relieving acid reflux symptoms.

What is acid reflux? Acid reflux is caused by common irritation on the walls of the esophagus, which comes about after consuming a meal or a snack. Acid reflux is commonly known as heartburn, which is often characterized by the tightening of the chest couple with difficulty in breathing. For some patients, acid reflux symptoms may include a burning sensation in the stomach and in the esophagus, vomiting and the general feeling of being so full. Physicians and other medical practitioners explain acid reflux because of the failure of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter or LES to remain closed. By nature, the Sphincter closes and locks away acid and food into the digestive system. However, when an abnormality occurs and the sphincter fails to close, food seep back into the esophagus and causes that burning sensation which we commonly call as heartburns. Heartburns are usually associated with poor digestion.

How does coconut relieve acid reflux? In tropical countries, people rely on coconuts to relieve gas pains and heartburns. There are two ways of administering coconut as a form of relief for acid reflux. First, coconut oil can be applied as a form of liniment on the stomach of the person suffering from acid reflux and second, it can be taken internally in the form of virgin coconut oil. In administering coconut oil as a form of liniment, you need to prepare the solution by extracting the oil from the coconut fruit. Local practices involved in extracting oil from the coconut fruit involve grating the pulp of a mature coconut fruit and then squeezing the milk out from the grated pulp. The milk extracted from the coconut pulp will not be strained to make sure that no solids are left. The coconut milk is then cooked in slowly in a low fire until the milk evaporates, leaving the oil behind. The coconut oil extracted will not be used as liniment for relieving acid reflux by inducing the sufferer to belch.

The second form of applying coconut to relieve acid reflux is to ingest it in the form of virgin coconut oil. Virgin coconut oil can be extracted from the coconut fruit by placing the coconut milk and in an even container for 48 hours until the cream, the water and the oil separates naturally. The oil extracted through this process is a potent anti-oxidant. Research shows that coconut oil, especially the one it its purest form is very rich in short and medium chain fatty acids. This shorter chain length allows for faster metabolism and without use of the carnitine transport system, which is associated with the oxidation process. This means that having high quantity of coconut oil in the body would mean high anti-oxidation capacity.

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