Sometimes we’re born with the tendency, sometimes we bring it on ourselves, but sooner or later we all get it, so here are some ideas to lessen the heat.

Don’t overdo it – a too full belly pushes stomach acids up into the esophagus.

don’t lie flat – if you’re having a lot of heartburn, don’t let gravity work against you. Staying upright keeps stomach acids where they belong

Take an antacid – Over the counter meds can be quite helpful.

Go easy on the caffeine – Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, and cola may irritate an already inflamed esophagus.

Chocolate – it contains caffeine, its nearly all fat, avoid it

No smoking – yours or someone else’s, smoking will relax your sphincter and increase acid production

Swear off fizzy drinks – bubbles can expand your stomach as much as over eating

Greasy fried foods – Hamburgers, fries, milkshakes, they can all produce acid in the stomach

Lose weight – a roll of fat around the gut squeezes the stomach much as a hand would squeeze a tube of toothpaste

Loosen your belt – try suspenders instead, think of that tube of toothpaste

Check your meds – some antidepressants and other meds can cause or aggravate heartburn.

Check the spice – chili peppers, spicy foods, some people can handle them, some cant, learn which one you are

Orange juice – don’t be afraid of oranges and lemons, they can cause issues, but let your tummy decide if you need to give them up

Eat earlier – Never eat within 2 1/2 hours of bedtime, your tummy needs time to let gravity do its job

Stress – get rid of it, learn some good relaxation techniques and practice them