Lifestyle Changes To Manage Heartburn

Eat Slower

Many studies have indicated eating faster increases the risk and intensity of heartburn. The reason for this is linked to saliva! Saliva has the capability to neutralize acid, and those who eat too fast won’t produce enough saliva. Eating slower gives the body time to produce more saliva, lessening the impact of acid. This means it helps get rid of heartburn! Eating slower regularly, especially when dealing with heartburn, also helps prevent GERD, which causes more issues as it is a chronic condition.

Eating slower also allows the body to really digest food before a woman is finished eating. Eating fast increases the potential for overeating since the body has no time to realize it’s already full. Eating slower lets it catch up, leading to eating smaller amounts of food. This helps with maintaining a healthy weight, another great lifestyle change to manage heartburn!

Eat Smaller Portions

Eating smaller portions does two things when it comes to managing heartburn. Smaller portions of food make it easier for women to maintain a healthy weight, as it reduces the potential for overeating. The stomach, it’s important to know, can expand a certain amount when a woman is eating. The larger a portion is, the more it will need to expand. This increases the pressure on the stomach and particularly both ends of it where the food comes in and where it comes out!

The increased pressure causes more stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, which is what triggers heartburn. Thus, eating smaller meals, but eating more of them, helps greatly. This makes sure women are still getting the nutrients they need, but without the risk of the added pressure on their stomach.