You like to cook. You love to eat. Unfortunately the foods you favor tend to trigger heartburn. Your best strategy: Know your triggers, then make substitutions or find safer ways to savor their flavors. Here’s how.

If your trigger is orange juice
Try: Low-acid orange juice. If that still brings on the burn, substitute a noncitrus beverage, such as apple juice, or go tropical and try mango juice.
Check out: Ceres Mango 100% fruit juice, a blend of mango and apple juice or pear juice. You’ll get 100% of your daily vitamin C needs without any tummy-burning acids.

If your trigger is chips and salsa
Try: Guacamole or a low-fat bean dip, and consider switching to lower-fat baked chips. Your body could be reacting to the raw onions, garlic and/or tomatoes in the salsa.
Caution: Although rich in fiber and folate, guacamole is high in calories and fat, so watch your portion size.

If your trigger is salad dressings made with vinegar
Try: Cider vinegar or rice vinegar. Experiment with one of these in your next dressing. If this doesn’t help, concoct a fresh-herb dressing by combining extra-virgin olive oil, a palmful of finely chopped fresh herbs (try dill or tarragon), a dollop of fat-free mayonnaise, and salt and pepper.

If your trigger is chocolate
Try: Fat-free chocolate pudding, caffeine-free hot cocoa or a drizzle of chocolate syrup over fat-free frozen yogurt. Enjoy the flavor of chocolate while avoiding heartburn and excess fat.
Take note: Sadly, fat-free does not mean calorie-free. When indulging in any sweet, remember to keep your portions small.

If your trigger is burgers and fries
Try: Lean sirloin instead of fatty burgers. Bake some “fries” in the oven: Just slice russet potatoes into wedges, toss with oil and salt, and bake in a 400°F oven, turning often, for about 45 minutes or until crispy.
Remember: The tomatoes in ketchup could trigger the burn, so dress your burger with lettuce, fat-free mayonnaise or fresh cucumber slices.

If your trigger is coffee
Try: Decaf, because it’s the caffeine that’s thought to cause heartburn. Ease into the switch by starting with a mix of decaf and caf, then slowly decrease the amount of caffeinated beans. Or go cold turkey and reach for a steaming cup of hot herbal tea or caffeine-free cocoa.
Check out: Teechino, a caffeine-free herbal coffee substitute.

If your trigger is spaghetti sauce
Try: Tossing hot noodles with a bright garlic-free pesto sauce or a homemade sauté of wild mushrooms, a splash of chicken broth and a shower of grated Parmesan cheese to avoid the heartburn-causing tomatoes in red spaghetti sauce.

If your trigger is nighttime snacking
Try: Avoiding those midnight munchies—lying down after eating can lead to late-night torture. If you must consume something, grab a banana, an apple or a soothing cup of herbal tea. Caution: Steer clear of mint, citrus and cranberry teas.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis or recommended treatments. For severe heartburn or heartburn that persists after trying over-the-counter treatment or lifestyle modifications, visit your doctor to determine the right treatment for you. See the Terms and Conditions for more information.