1. Stay away from foods such as citrus fruits, chocolate, peppermint, spearmint, tomatoes or tomato-based products, raw onions and garlic.

2. Avoid fatty or greasy foods as much as possible. They tend to slow down digestion, which means that both the foods and the acid your body produces to break them down remain in the stomach a long time. This gives the acid a greater opportunity to move backward up into the esophagus.

3. Be careful using spices. Monitor the effect the following spices have on your heartburn and avoid those you identify as triggers: ground cinnamon, ground mace, ground ginger, coriander, dill, parsley, garlic powder (or fresh garlic), basil, thyme, tarragon, onion powder and dried onion pieces, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, Tabasco sauce, chili powder, curry powder, cloves, mustard seeds, nutmeg.

4. Choose vinegars wisely. Some are gentler than others: For example, cider vinegar and rice vinegar are tolerated better by many people.

5. Cut back on drinking coffee; citrus juices; and caffeinated, carbonated and alcoholic beverages. Beer and caffeinated beverages—such as coffee, tea and cola—make stomach acids even more irritating if they make their way up the esophagus.

6. Practice portion control. Your stomach responds to large portions by producing large amounts of acid. More stomach acid means a greater chance of acid reflux.

7. Eat slowly and chew food thoroughly. Doing so will make you feel fuller—as food has had time to digest—and decrease the likelihood of heartburn.

8. Finish eating your final meal of the day at least two to three hours before going to bed. The added time will give your food and acid levels a chance to clear before lying down—the position in which heartburn is most likely to occur.

9. Keep a stash of safe snacks. Do you reach for high-fat snacks or chocolate when hunger hits? Have on hand healthy foods that you enjoy, such as cut-up vegetables, raisins or graham crackers.

10. After a meal, try sucking on hard candy. This triggers the production of saliva, which acts as a natural barrier to acid. But be sure to avoid mint candies.

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. OTC PPIs are only indicated for treatment of frequent heartburn. 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.