11 Meal Planning Tips to Prevent Heartburn

If you're one of the 15 million Americans experiencing heartburn every day, there's more to discouraging the discomfort than avoiding certain foods and beverages.

Heartburn relief also has to do with the timing and size of your meals, says The American College of Gastroenterology, which is why planning your meals can be so important. But before we get to the planning part, it helps to know what causes heartburn.

Why Heartburn Happens

In people with frequent heartburn, the lower esophageal sphincter muscle (LES) may be weak, or relax too frequently, allowing stomach acids to get into the esophagus.

Heartburn happens when the lining of the esophagus comes in contact with too much stomach acid, producing a burning pain and injuring the esophagus. Yet heartburn can be halted -- that's where meal planning comes in. Sleeping With Heartburn Carries Cancer Risks .