It surprises people to learn that indigestion has nothing to do with spicy food. The ingredient in spicy food that gives it its heat is called "capsaicin". Indigestion happens when there is too little salt to balance with the stomach's hydrochloric acid. [] The pancreas has another job besides producing insulin - it breaks down salt into sodium and chloride. The chloride is used to produce the hydrochloric acid while the sodium is used to produce a mild bicarbonate solution to protect the stomach from the burning effects of the acid. Acid stomach can be avoided altogether if the person would do the following: 30 minutes before eating, dissolve a pinch (1/8 tsp) of sea salt on the tongue followed by 16 oz of water to wash it down (not soft drink or other water substitute). Don't sip on the water - it has to all be drunk within 5 minutes. Two hours after eating, repeat the process to complete the digestion. [] I used to get heartburn so much that when I bought antacids, I'd buy 2 large bottles - one to take on the road with me and one to keep at home. That was more than 10 years ago. I do the water protocol every day and I've never been bothered with digestive issues since.

I still eat them at 83