Eating habit changes for hiatal hernia or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

You can make changes to your eating habits to help relieve your symptoms of heartburn. Here are some things to try:

• It’s best to eat several small meals instead of two or three large meals.
• After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down. Late-night snacks aren't a good idea.
• Chocolate, mint, and alcohol can make heartburn worse. They relax the valve between the esophagus and the stomach.
• Spicy foods, foods that have a lot of acid (like tomatoes and oranges), and coffee can make heartburn symptoms worse in some people. If your symptoms are worse after you eat a certain food, you may want to stop eating that food to see if your symptoms get better.