First, let me clarify myself here. Indigestion and heartburn can be caused by many different reasons. Today I am writing about heartburn and indigestion caused by life, and NOT by any underlying illness.

Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone caused by regurgitation of gastric acid. The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck or throat. Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of asthma and chronic cough.

The sensation of heartburn is caused by exposure of the lower esophagus to the acidic contents of the stomach.

Quite a number of years ago, my heartburn was so bad that even a sip of water caused my chest to go on fire. Thank goodness it is now under control. It will creep up now and then, but the constant agony of heartburn has been conquered.

Heartburn can be caused by a number of factors. These include certain foods, and others are factors such as being overweight or lifestyle habits, such as smoking, drinking and stress. Stress may not necessarily cause heartburn, but it can aggravate it severely. Eating too much at one sitting will guarantee a heartburn attack.

There are many sites on the internet that will give you lists of foods to eat and to avoid.

Foods that may cause Heartburn:

Alcohol

Coffee, tea, cola, and other caffeinated and carbonated beverages

Chocolate

Citrus fruits and juices

Tomatoes and tomato sauces (such as pizza and pasta sauce)

Spicy foods and fatty foods (including full-fat dairy products)

Peppermint and spearmint

Dry fruits such as peanuts

Lifestyle changes will also help. Choosing a healthier diet, exercising and generally looking after ourselves is a first good step towards relief of heartburn.

Also, checking into the many different natural aids is worth the time and effort. Choose products from companies that have been around for a long time. Research the products recommended to you. Do not just take something, or spend your life's savings on product because a close friend or family recommended it. Check it out first. Research it first. Find testimonials, real live testimonials.

Tips for instant relief. Raise your bed. Eat slowly. Do not eat 2 hours before bed. When heartburn strikes, do not lie down?try sucking on a candy.

Old fashioned remedies: Ginger, Clover and Chamomile.

You can find natural remedies for your health, formulated in therapeutic dosages to help with digestive disorders. There is much help available, if you take the time to thoroughly research your options.

Try not to go for the short term relief, such as Tums, Rolaids or the very many pills available in the pharmacies. Instead, try to find a permanent relief.

Another possible reason for heartburn and indigestion could be inflammation. With me, I did have that very condition. Once it was gone, so was my heartburn. Kind of like the snowball effect. The heartburn was causing inflammation, which was causing more heartburn. Another very interesting factor, for me, was that when my inflammation was present, my sugar readings were high. Once my inflammation was under control, so were my sugar readings.

To educate yourself with some general wellness knowledge check out this site. I am making no claims here, but this is some terrific research information for you. Dr. Barry Sears most recent research has uncovered a new way to define wellness ? the absence of silent inflammation. In this extraordinary new book, Dr. Sears answers critical questions: What is Silent Inflammation? What causes it? How do you know if you have it? Why is it harmful to your health? How you can reduce it?

Title: The Anti-Inflammation Zone

Subtitle: Reversing the Silent Epidemic That's Destroying Our Health

Author: Dr. Barry Sears

Binding: Hardcover

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Publication Year: 2005

Pages: 403

ISBN: 0060595469

It is a book worth reading.

Take your heartburn seriously. Discuss it with your doctor. Look for natural remedies. Research these remedies and the companies that offer them. Change your lifestyle. Normal day to day heartburn can lead to serious illness if not treated and looked after.

You can conquer it. I did.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.