How bad have you had heartburn and indigestion? This dynamic duo called heartburn and indigestion has caused many a long night.



Who hasn't shot straight up in the night or early morning, suddenly struck by an abrupt and foul burning feeling in the pit of our gut? Whether you ate some overly spicy chili, hot curry or over did it on those late-night goodies, these hasty heartburn remedies will calm down your fiery stomach and help you get back to sleep! So long heartburn and indigestion.

The first thing you'll want to do when you're awakened by heartburn pain is to stand up. This helps keep the acid at bay while you go and get a full glass of cool water.

Drink the whole glass of water, and follow it with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and half a glass of water. Be careful though, if you have high blood pressure or are pregnant, this can cause water retention or increase your blood pressure.

Eating a banana every day works like an antacid to ease or erase heartburn and indigestion. If you're already stricken with indigestion, eating pineapple or papaya (or drinking the juice) can help relieve your stomach naturally. There are some people that assert that eating a teaspoon of mustard (yuck!) can work immediately. Forget the hot dog.

Certain foods can cause nighttime heartburn and indigestion. The list is somewhat recognizable. It includes soda pop or beverages with caffeine, alcohol, garlic, chocolate, citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato-based products. By staying away from these types of foods can help ease your indigestion. Especially if you are awakened often with that intolerable burning feeling in the pit of your stomach.

Avoid eating at least two hours before you go to sleep. Those late night snacks can keep your stomach busy all night and prevent you from easing into a deep, restful sleep. You may also find that sleeping on your left side or sleeping at a somewhat upright angle can keep acid down where it belongs.

Eat small, frequent meals and chew your food slowly and thoroughly. Give yourself two or three hours to digest before going to bed or lying down.

If you are aroused by heartburn and indigestion frequently or the pain is harsh, or if you come up with heartburn and vomiting, consult your doctor immediately as it may be a sign of a more serious condition such as an ulcer. Stop with the spicy, greasy fatty and caffeine-containing cuisine prior to bed, and you should be able to drift off to sleep comfortably.

Sweet dreams!

Feel free to pass this on to anyone you think would benefit.