Grapefruit and Heartburn
It’s refreshing, it’s low in calories, and it’s full of fiber to keep hunger at bay while you snooze. Compared to other less-healthy late-night snacks people often choose, grapefruit is a great choice, especially if you’re watching your weight.
If you have heartburn, however, you may want to steer clear. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that citrus fruits like grapefruit are among the worst heartburn triggers. Cleveland Clinic recommends limiting the amount of grapefruit you eat if you have acid reflux — also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — because the fruit can increase stomach acid and worsen symptoms.
Many people notice that their heartburn symptoms increase at night. When you’re lying down, food can’t clear your esophagus. If you eat grapefruit right before you lie down, that could spell double trouble. It’s best to wait two or three hours after eating before getting into bed, according to UNC Health Talk.
However, acid reflux symptoms can also worsen if your stomach is too empty. That’s because an empty stomach can ramp up acid production in an attempt to be ready for more food, UNC Health Talk notes. Depending on when you eat dinner, a late-night grapefruit snack may worsen the issue.
Not everyone experiences heartburn. Those who don’t have problems with acid reflux may be able to eat grapefruit before bed with no problem. If you try grapefruit at night and notice any symptoms of heartburn, consider avoiding it too close to bedtime in the future.
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