In today’s technologically advanced world, we have just about everything we need right at our fingertips. In fact, you can even get diagnosed online by a doctor for a variety of illnesses without ever having to leave your home.

But despite all of our technology and advances in telemedicine, there are still some things that we need to be consciously aware of, and our health is certainly among them.

Maintaining proper health is essential to living a full and productive life. Essentially, without good health, it’s hard to function. And this can make even the simplest of everyday tasks difficult.

One condition that you should be aware of that can make your life miserable is that of acute heartburn. Even mild heartburn can cause problems if it’s consistent over time. But thankfully, there are a few strategies that you can employ to avoid getting heartburn.

Here, we’ll explore a few tips on how to avoid heartburn, before the burning starts.

Modify Your Diet

Perhaps the first and best line of defense for avoiding heartburn is to avoid the foods that are known to cause heartburn. This might be easier said than done because we all know there are tons of wonderfully delicious foods out there just begging to be eaten

But without a proper diet, those tantalizing delights could ultimately become your worst nightmare, especially in the case of acute heartburn.

Many of the foods that cause heartburn are predominantly spicy or highly acidic. These can include buffalo wings, Asian cuisine, and anything heavily seasoned with pepper.

Additionally, acidic fruits and vegetables can also be causes of heartburn, so even though a diet of vegetables is recommended by many nutritionists, it’s best to steer clear of those with high acid content.

OTC Medication

Many people think they can fool their stomach by taking heartburn medication before a night of heavy eating or drinking. And while this may work on occasion, it certainly isn’t a foolproof plan.

In fact, taking heartburn medication on a regular basis can do more harm than good because your stomach needs to produce acid on a regular basis in order to regulate proper digestion. Further, some heartburn medications are known to cause serious problems.

For example, the heartburn medication Zantac has been linked to various types of stomach cancers, and the drug is now the subject of numerous Zantac lawsuits across the country.

Rather than try to “beat the system” and take medications to mitigate heartburn, adjusting your diet and using natural heartburn relief methods have proven to be a much healthier and more effective method altogether.

Natural Remedies 

Of all the natural ways you can combat the onset of heartburn, perhaps the best method is rarely practiced.

You might be surprised to learn that saliva has a neutralizing effect on stomach acid. As such, many doctors actually recommend gum chewing after a meal. Not only does the saliva help calm an overactive stomach, the act of repeatedly swallowing will help to push stomach acid back down, out of the esophagus.

Other natural remedies include drinking calming teas such as those which contain Caraway or German Chamomile. Licorice root is also a safe, natural alternative for heartburn relief, and this can come in raw form or be added to a tea.

Beverages which are known to cure heartburn also include aloe vera juice, which has become the most popular in recent years, or the timeless classic virgin cocktail of aromatic bitters and soda. The latter has a near-immediate neutralizing effect on overactive acid production, and has been a remedy for a couple of centuries.

Heartburn is nothing to scoff at. And this condition can actually be so debilitating that sufferers often visit the emergency room due to the writhing pain they find themselves in.

At the end of the day, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So be proactive when it comes to dealing with heartburn and you’ll be able to enjoy your meals without worry.