Summer Foods: Don't Feel the Heartburn

Summer Foods: Don't Feel the Heartburn

Just because it's hot outside doesn't mean you have to feel the heat of heartburn when enjoying foods of the season.

Other Tips for Preventing Heartburn

Both Liddle and Magee agree that when you eat and how much have a real effect on heartburn.

If you're prone to heartburn, Magee recommends eating three to four hours before bedtime. "Often people won't eat all day while they are running around in the heat," she says. Then when they eat at night, they eat too much and then go to bed. This makes stomach contents more likely to splash up."

If you are taking aspirin, pain meds, antibiotics, or iron, be extra cautious. These can set off heartburn.

Other ways to help drench your heartburn include:

• Exercise as usual, but don't eat before, during, or just after.
• Lose weight if you are overweight.
• Stop smoking (it not only stimulates acid production, but loosens the valve that protects your throat and can also reduce saliva production).
• Elevate your bed with wedges.
• Take over-the-counter medication. If you find you need something more than twice a week check with your doctor. You may need a prescription.
• Relax! The stress doesn't cause the heartburn, but it can cause you to gobble trigger foods.

If you get heartburn daily, despite lifestyle and eating changes, Liddle suggests consulting a physician.