Stop heartburn fast!

Bothered by heartburn more often lately? It’s not surprising: The problem (also known as acid reflux) tends to crop up more frequently over time as the body’s ability to produce digestive enzymes and acids slows. Trouble is, common over-the-counter remedies (such as Nexium and Prilosec) work by blocking stomach acid production, raising the risk of reflux in the long run! To safely and effectively stop the burn:

Nix trouble with calcium!

“Calcium is nature’s antacid,” says naturopath Michelle Schoffro Cook, PH.D., which is why chewing a flavored calcium carbonate tablet (like Tums) eases heartburn fast without negative side effects! In fact, folks with a history of heartburn who ate foods that trigger the trouble—such as chili, raw onions and cola—then chewed a calcium carbonate tablet, enjoyed faster, more effective relief than those who used other popular treatments. Bonus: Calcium carbonate also boosts bone density!

Have berries for dessert!

Think coffee and spicy foods are the top heartburn triggers? Nope! High-sugar carbs are a bigger problem! “Sweets like cookies create excessive acidity and can feed the ‘bad’ bacteria in your gut that may be linked to heartburn,” says Schoffro Cook. Satisfy your sweet tooth with berries instead. “Their lower sugar content is more harmonious with the body’s digestive tract and prevents bacterial overgrowth,” she says.

Sip a soothing smoothie!

Feel symptoms coming on? Whip up a banana and almond milk smoothie! “Bananas’ natural com- pounds help coat mucous membranes in the GI tract, soothing heartburn and related digestive issues,” Schoffro Cook says. And blending the fruit with alkaline almond milk tames acid overload before it reaches your esophagus.

Plan pampering breaks!

It’s well- proven that nonstop stress increases reflux problems, the reason spending 15 minutes a day relaxing without distractions, say, by swinging in a hammock, soaking in a hot tub or catching up on your reading, can really reduce heartburn symptoms!

Soothe with aloe vera!

Aloe vera—the go-to remedy for natural healers—is shown to work as well as prescription omeprazole at quelling heartburn, with no worry of side effects. “Drinking aloe vera juice daily helps soothe mucous membranes in the digestive tract, easing heartburn and reducing the inflammation caused by it,” says Schoffro Cook. As a preventative, take 1 oz. of an edible pure aloe vera gel (such as Swanson Aloe Vera Gel, $13.68, Amazon. com) before a.m. and p.m. meals.