True or false: heartburn is simply one of those things that happen with age.
Well, it’s a bit of both. While it’s true that older people are more likely to feel the burning effects of indigestion thanks to their ageing internal muscles (new elder insult unlocked), the truth is that it can happen to anyone overindulging in particularly rich food and drink.
I’m talking Christmas turkey and trimmings, fatty lamb at Easter and rounds of sparkling fizz on warm evenings: they’re all bound to have a consequence, and not just on your waistline.
According to Google Trends, searches for indigestion spike over major holidays like Christmas. In 2022, there were around 13,200 visits to the NHS’s online heartburn advice page between Christmas Day and Boxing Day. That’s the equivalent of one view every 13 seconds.
What is heartburn?
That tight feeling in your chest? The bloat around your gut? The sicky, acidic taste clawing at the back of your throat? That’s heartburn.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “The pain is often worse after eating, in the evening, or when lying down or bending over.” It happens when stomach acid goes the wrong way up your food pipe, thanks to weaker stomach muscles or very rich food. While it’s incredibly uncomfortable, occasional heartburn isn’t anything to worry about, and the remedy is simple.
Who is most likely to get heartburn?
Heartburn and acid reflux can affect pregnant people, or result as a symptom of stress and anxiety. It can be caused by taking anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen or happen because of internal abnormalities like a hiatus hernia, stomach ulcer or bacterial infection. If you’re overweight or smoke, you’re more likely to experience that horrid burning sensation in your chest too.
What foods trigger heartburn the most?
According to the NHS, certain foods are more likely to bring on heartburn. We’re sad to say it’s a lot of fun stuff; think coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods. Peppermint can be a trigger too.
Are there natural heartburn remedies?
There are a few things you can do to help the situation. Swerving away from the aforementioned dishes and ingredients can help dial down the burn, as can eating smaller meals and not eating just before bed. Wearing looser clothing, particularly around your waist, will ensure that your stomach isn’t squeezing acid the wrong way up.
The best and fastest way to soothe the internal fire? Turning to an antacid for help. Available in liquid or chewable tablet form, these remedies work in seconds to ward off the uncomfortable symptoms of heartburn and are available over the pharmacy counter.
We’ve rounded up the best options to help alleviate heartburn. Stash them in your cupboards or first aid kit, ready to help when you need them most.
See the best antacids and other remedies to relieve heartburn below
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Gaviscon Double Action Heartburn and Indigestion Tablets
The older you get, the more you realise it’s always wise to have a few of these knocking about the house, especially if you’re hosting over Christmas. Gaviscon’s mint-flavoured tablets work in seconds to offer both heartburn and indigestion relief, forming a protective barrier that lasts up to four hours. Offered here in tablet form means they’re good for taking on trips abroad too. Adults can take up to four tablets after meals or just before bed.
Buy now £11.39, Amazon
TUMS Antacid Chewable Tablets
With a flavour that previous shoppers have likened to Love Hearts, it seems almost unbelievable that TUMS fruit-flavoured antacids are made for medical use. The chewable tablets can sometimes leave a chalky feeling in the mouth, but it’s nothing that a glug of water can’t fix. And besides, the almost instantaneous soothing from acidity is worth the dry texture. Suitable for kids too.
Buy now £14.35, Amazon
Rennie Sugar Free Flavour - 72 Chewable Tablets
As soon as you begin to taste those bitter notes, pop a Rennie in for fast-acting relief. Available in a variety of flavours, the sugar-free chewies are our pick as they can be used by diabetics too. Take two an hour after meals or an hour before you go to bed for best results, with no more than 10 tablets over 24 hours. They’re effective but also gentle; these tablets can be used by pregnant and breastfeeding people too.
Buy now £5.99, Amazon
Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets
For folks who like to feel prepared, Pyrocalm Control's tablets offer 24-hour relief from acid reflux and heartburn from just one tablet a day. The notion of all-day freedom is appealing, especially if you haven’t room to take your usual after-meal antacids; think weddings, weekends away and parties.
It's only suitable for adults and should not be taken if you're on certain medications, so always check the packet before ingesting.
Buy now £9.69, Amazon
Gut–Smart COOL, 60 x Chewable Tablets
You can still continue to enjoy your favourite foods - in moderation, of course - thanks to Gut Smart and its COOL tablets that offer a nutritional and botanical solution to the malaise that is heartburn. This packet of 60 chewable tablets comes with a little travel tin so you can keep a stash in your bag or pocket, ready to battle heartburn whenever it occurs. Ingredients include calcium, slippery elm and marshmallow root to help with digestion while biotin aids the metabolism. All natural, they’re vegan-friendly too.
Buy now £16.95, Amazon
Manor Springs Crystallised Ginger 1kg
Eating raw ginger is an acquired taste to say the least, but if you can get over the flavour, the benefits are innumerable.
Eating or drinking this wonder root can ease bloating, help indigestion by alleviating nausea and diarrhea and it’s thought it can help reduce acid reflux too. Finish meals with a soothing ginger tea, or chew on crystallised ginger to help lessen the effects of heartburn and indigestion.
Buy now £13.99, Amazon
Silicolgel 200ml
There’s no need to turn down dinner party invites when you’ve got a sachet of Silicolgel up your sleeve. It’s a solution for wider gut issues but can help minimise the symptoms of heartburn, reflux, vomiting and IBS too. The formula works by creating a protective shield over the stomach to stop acid flowing back up and by binding irritants and toxic substances to it so they can pass through the system harmlessly.
Buy now £8.29, Amazon
ENO Lemon Fruit Salt Antacid Powder 100g
Dissolve a spoonful of this into water or juice, take a sip and count down from six - that's how many seconds it takes for this antacid to get to work. It's great for dispelling heartburn as well as general after-dinner stomach troubles like trapped wind and indigestion.
Buy now £6.99, Amazon
The Nue Co DEBLOAT+
Best for: Bloating and GORD
The Nue Co has come up with a means to combat chronic bloating, gas, heartburn, indigestion and other symptoms associated with IBS - and fast. Cruelty-free, non-toxic and non-GMO, these capsules are made from a blend of multiple enzymes, liquorice root extract, as well as organic cinnamon, ginger and turmeric powders.
Though certainly pretty to look at, the DEBLOAT+ supplements walk the walk too. With over 70 reviews on the brand’s website heralding the success of these tiny, all-natural pills – their anti-inflammatory properties are clearly very real.
The 17 digestive enzymes packed into these supplements help to break down food and relieve IBS symptoms, particularly following the consumption of carbohydrates. Meanwhile, the trio of organic powders mentioned above are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
Moreover, according to the brand, liquorice root has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is believed to pacify “altered pitta”, reduce heartburn and heal ulcers. Sign us up.
Buy now £42.00, Cult Beauty
