Heartburn is one of the most common digestive problems, affecting an estimated 20 million Americans every year. Heartburn is typically caused by stomach acid getting up into the esophagus and irritating the lining. The symptoms of heartburn can vary from person to person, but commonly it causes a burning sensation in the chest or throat, and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.

Read on for six tricks that help soothe acid indigestion:

1. Avoid heavy meals

To avoid acid reflux, don’t go to bed with a full stomach. Instead, health experts recommend that you eat earlier in the evening, and not overeat at mealtimes. Heavy meals tend to aggravate the stomach and the digestive system, making the heartburn problem a lot worse. Stick to a meal routine and try not to snack between meals. Additionally, it would be prudent to avoid foods that are difficult to digest, such as fried food or other fatty meals.

2. Incorporate more fiber into your diet

Fiber helps to keep your digestive system happy and functioning normally. Adding extra fiber to your diet can decrease constipation and minimize heartburn symptoms. Additionally, health and nutrition experts recommend that you eat slowly and chew thoroughly.

3. Sip some apple cider vinegar

Some health experts recommend that you drink a small amount of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water every day. Apple cider vinegar helps to balance the acidity levels in your stomach and alleviate heartburn symptoms by neutralizing excess acids. Excess acids can be caused by consuming certain things like caffeine, soda, or alcohol. Apple cider vinegar also helps promote the production of digestive juices that allow your stomach to break down food. In addition, apple cider vinegar is a rich source of minerals and vitamins such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These minerals help in reducing heartburn symptoms by making the esophagus less acidic.

4. Stop smoking

Another acid indigestion remedy is to quit smoking. Smoking can be a significant factor in causing heartburn. Smoking irritates the stomach lining and makes acid reflux worse, leading to chronic heartburn symptoms. Additionally, smoking can lead to several other health complications that worsen heartburn, including lung disease and esophageal cancer.

5. Limit foods that trigger heartburn

Certain foods can be more of a trigger for heartburn symptoms. Keep a diary of the foods that trigger your heartburn, and then try to avoid them. Common heartburn triggers include fried or spicy food, and acidic food such as citrus fruits and tomatoes. In addition, you should limit the consumption of heavily processed foods. In addition, you should avoid caffeine as it can also trigger heartburn.

6. Maintain a healthy weight

The last acid indigestion remedy is to maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts more pressure on the stomach, which can increase heartburn symptoms. Being overweight can also cause strain on the digestive system, leading to problems like chronic heartburn.

In conclusion, there are a variety of steps you can take to help reduce and prevent heartburn symptoms. If in doubt, discuss your symptoms with your doctor to get proper guidance on dealing with this problem.