4 Ways to Avoid Heartburn on New Year’s Eve
Of all the things to stress out about on December 31, heartburn shouldn’t be one of them! Use these tips to keep your New Year’s Eve celebration heartburn-free.
New Year’s Eve can be one of the most magical nights, but it can also be a stressful evening, meaning lots of running around beforehand.
Even though a holiday can add different kinds of stressors to your life — like what to eat, when to eat it, and how much to consume — one thing you shouldn’t have to stress out about is heartburn. While it’s a common issue (it’s estimated that more than 60 million Americans1 experience heartburn at least once a month), and although you may not always be able to prevent heartburn, there are some things you can do to avoid triggering it.
Ways to Avoid Heartburn on New Year’s
1. Dodge the Late-Night Pizza
Even though it’s oh so delicious, pizza contains two big heartburn triggers2: it’s high in fat and usually slathered in tomato sauce (tomatoes have a pH below 73, making them acidic). If you’re up late after the ball drops, opt for smaller snacks that are easier on your digestion2, like whole grain cereal, a veggie omelette (that doesn’t include onions or tomatoes), or whole grain toast with avocado.
2. Drink Responsibly (and Avoid Sugary / Acidic Cocktails)
If you’re 21 years or older, limiting your drinking — even on such a big night — is a great way to cut down on heartburn, since alcohol is a trigger4. And while natural sugar itself (like honey and maple syrup) isn’t likely to trigger heartburn4, combining liquor with citrus juices5 could definitely set off heartburn symptoms.
3. Say No to Eating Right Before Bed
Eating close to bedtime and lying down immediately post meal can trigger heartburn. Late-night meals are a pretty common occurrence on New Year’s, but if you find yourself eating into the wee hours of the morning, try to wait a few hours before actually getting into bed.
4. Do What You Can to Manage Stress
A 2015 study published in Internal Medicine shows a possible connection between “continued stress” and heartburn issues, which means you have yet another reason to find a healthy outlet for anxiety. There are a plethora of options that won’t cost too much extra money, including yoga classes, health centers, adult sports clubs, and specialty groups, so don’t be afraid to do a little research when you have a spare moment between work and running errands
Avoid heartburn-related situations as best as you can, but also be prepared in case situations do arise. Keep a bottle of TUMS Chewy Bites in your purse. On the occasional times when you get heartburn, fight it with a tasty little chew that’s convenient enough to come along for any New Year’s Eve plans you have scheduled.
Keeping these tips in mind and taking TUMS along for the ride are proactive ways to keep heartburn from robbing you of a good time during this fun, once-a-year, fun night!