Nighttime Heartburn

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say more than 60 million American adults lack quality sleep patterns. This means 60,000,000 people have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up refreshed.

The main culprits are alcohol, caffeine, nicotine or eating too much before bedtime . . . which, among other factors triggers nighttime heartburn.

Researchers in Oklahoma City studied 81 people who complained of sleep problems and found that 30% of them suffered from nighttime heartburn and didn’t even know it.

In Brazilian study, researchers studied nearly 100 adults who had sleep issues and found people with sleep problems were almost ‘twice as likely’ to suffer chronic nighttime heartburn (a.k.a. acid reflux, acid indigestion, gastroesophageal reflux disease) compared to others without sleeping pattern issues.

Leading health experts agree that eating smaller meals more often is better than eating 1, 2 or 3 large meals a day. Nighttime heartburn is associated with eating large meals, especially before lying down.

If you have to eat late, make sure you’re up doing something for at least 3 hours before bed. If you eat something like a snack, make sure it’s at least an hour and a half before you crash out on the couch, floor or bed.

Nighttime heartburn can be activated by sitting down and eating as well. The proverbial coach potato who eats and watches TV will most likely qualify as one of the 60 million Americans who have sleep disorders and odds are they have nighttime heart burn.

Here’s what to do if you want nighttime heartburn:

• Eat a big meal shortly before bed
• Drinking anything but water right before bed
• Don’t raise your head while sleeping
• Eat acid forming foods
• Get a milk or beer belly
• Smoke tobacco
• Consume less than 90% vegetables and fruits
• Mix your carbs and protein together
• Take antacids that cause acid rebound

Living without nighttime heartburn is a natural step you can take that also carries many other benefits such as living longer, being slimmer and having more vitality and overall health.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass

Health Advocate