If you have heartburn, you probably know what triggers it. Fried potatoes, coffee, alcohol, pizza are just a few of the types of foods that can't be eaten. Is there anything left? If you want to be heartburn free what is left to eat? Fortunately there are some good heartburn foods that can be eaten that not only taste good but can also help against our heartburn symptoms as well.

Our poor nutrition is causing that awful feeling of pain behind the chest bone and burning sensation in the throat we call heartburn. The esophagus is being exposed to food and gastric secretion that should remain in the stomach but doesn't. This happens because the muscle between the stomach and esophagus gets loose or damaged by various irritants, such as acidic foods.

Although different people have different heartburn triggers, there are foods that are safe and few rules can make your meals heartburn-free. Here are a few things you can do to prevent an episode of heartburn:

1. Don't eat one large meal, instead eat smaller ones spread out during the day. A full stomach can cause to valve to open slightly and let acid from the stomach enter the esophagus.

2. Eat lean cuts of meat because fats in the meat causes heartburn. It's best to grill the meat instead of frying it. That way you can cut down on the amount of grease you eat.

3. Tomato-rich dishes are generally know to cause heartburn. It can be hard to fathom but it is possible to get a pizza without tomato sauce. They also have greasy cheese, another trigger.

4. Apple juice helps in the fight with heartburn. Drink it instead of orange juice.

5. Fresh, natural vegetables usually don't cause heartburn. It's only when they are fried that there is a chance. Season them with herbs instead of hot spices.

6. Bananas and apples are the safest fruits to eat Try out other fruit slowly so you can determine what you can and can't eat.

7. Coffee is a very bad heartburn trigger and if you have to have your regular cup, dilute it with a lot of fat-free milk. Don't drink more than two cups a day.

8. Bad news for chocolate lovers, it causes heartburn. But, if love chocolate and you use it to combat any emotional turmoil, buy some very good and very expensive chocolate like truffles and use it in emergency only and in very small quantity.

9. Alcohol is really bad for heartburn, so if you have to drink socially, opt for beer, white wine instead of red and dilute your stronger drink with ice, water or juice.

Of course, we are not all the same, so it is a good idea to write down everything you eat every day, in order to spot foods that bother you, even if they are considered safe. To have good heartburn foods begin with a simple diet and then through experimentation you'll know what's best for you.

Make sure that your last meal is about three hours before going to bed. If you wake up in the middle of the night and are hungry, a glass of apple juice or a banana should lull you back to sleep. And avoid the chocolate cake. It's probably in your best interest to avoid the refrigerator.