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Taking the Burn Out of Heartburn

As we get older, sadly, we can’t eat like we once did and heartburn may become a problem, particularly during the nighttime hours.

The experts say these foods can be part of the problem:

  • Caffeine
  • Citrus
  • Chocolate
  • Tomatoes
  • Spicy Foods
  • Fatty Foods
  • Alcohol
  • Spearmint or Peppermint (Who knew?)

The first rule in relieving the discomfort is: don’t go to bed on a full stomach!

Other things that might help:

  • Lose weight (which eases the pressure on your stomach)
  • Elevate your head – if you can, your head should be about 6 to 8 inched above your body to help prevent reflux
  • Minimize your meals – Try eating smaller portions more frequently
  • If you smoke, stop – tobacco smoke can weaken the gateway between your stomach and esophagus.