According to recent research, the risk for acid reflux increases in people who eat any food after 8 p.m. or within three hours before going to bed.

If you’re like many of us, you might be having a hard time sleeping these days.  Stress and worry may be keeping you awake, which can lead to late-night snacking.  Unfortunately, according to an article in the New York Times, the risk for acid reflux increases in people who eat any food after 8 p.m. or within three hours before going to bed.

Acid reflux isn’t just that uncomfortable feeling of heartburn.  It can have damaging long-term health effects.  Those who suffer from chronic, severe reflux can develop esophagitis (inflammation and narrowing of the esophagus), or even esophageal cancer.

You’ve likely heard that late-night eating can lead to weight gain, but a sensible dinner at 10:00 versus 7:00 is more likely to cause painful heartburn than pack on the pounds.  But, beware the bedtime snack.  Mindlessly binging in front of the TV adds extra calories and that will cause weight gain PLUS acid reflux.

If you suffer from chronic heartburn and acid reflux, try to avoid eating within three hours of going to bed.  You can also:

• Eat 6 smaller meals each day instead of 3 larger ones. This will help keep the stomach from becoming too full, and help prevent excessive production of stomach acid.
• If one of your meals ends up being larger than the others, aim to eat that meal for lunch instead of dinner.
• Limit the amount of citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits that you eat.
• Try to relax before bed. Stress may lead to an increase in stomach acid production. It is also known to lead to behaviors that can trigger acid reflux, such as overeating.
• Get regular exercise – it can help with digestion. Just make sure to wait at least two hours after a meal before breaking a sweat. Exercising on a too-full stomach can also trigger heartburn.