Eating too much salt can make you retain water and feel bloated, possibly making heartburn worse. Research suggests that people with GERD may have more esophageal inflammation if they consume high amounts of salt (95). However, for healthy people, overdoing it with salt usually doesn't lead to heartburn. Keep in mind that salty foods are often fried or processed, which usually comes with unhealthy fats and additives. Plus, extreme processing can strip away nutrients and make these foods highly acidic (2, 28).