Is Mango Good for Acid Reflux and Heartburn?

Acid reflux is a common condition that affects millions of people in the U.S. And certain foods can trigger it, including acidic fruits. But what about mango — is mango good for acid reflux, or can it aggravate symptoms?

First things first, acid reflux — also known as gastroesophageal reflux — occurs when the contents of your stomach travel back up into the esophagus, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

An estimated 20 percent of the U.S. population experiences reflux, and it can cause symptoms like:

• Heartburn
• Regurgitation
• Chest pain
• Trouble swallowing
• Chronic cough
• Hoarseness
• A sour taste in your mouth
  
• Excessive burping

Though it sounds intimidating, occasional heartburn is typically not cause for concern. That said, frequent or severe episodes may be a sign of a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and warrant a visit to your doctor, per the Mayo Clinic.

And certain foods can trigger reflux, including some fruits, per the NIDDK. So, is mango bad for acid reflux? Here, we explain the connection between mango and acid reflux and whether you should avoid mango for GERD.

As mentioned before, certain foods can stimulate reflux, per the NIDDK. Foods to avoid with GERD include:

• Acidic foods — that is, foods with a pH balance of less than 7 — like citrus fruits and tomatoes
• Chocolate
• High-fat foods
  
• Fried foods
• Spicy foods
• Mint
• Coffee and other caffeinated drinks
• Alcohol

So, is mango acidic? Ripe mangoes aren't as acidic as many other fruits, according to Clemson University — they have a pH of 5.80 to 6.00, compared to, say, grapefruit, which has a pH of 3.00 to 3.75. As a result, mango is likely good for GERD compared to more acidic fruits.

Other low-acid fruits that may be OK to eat if you have GERD include:

• Melon
• Banana
• Avocados
• Papaya
  
• Pear
• Watermelon
• Figs
• Kiwi
• Peach

Even though ripe mangoes are among the better fruits to eat if you have GERD, it's important to remember that everybody has different problem foods, according to the NIDDK.

So if mango regularly triggers symptoms for you, it's best to limit or avoid it even though mango is hypothetically good for acid reflux.