Apple Cider Vinegar for reflux

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Dianescat

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I'm 63

Never had any digestive problems until my late forties

Yesterday I did buy some Betaine HCL, 1000mg in 2 tablets

took 2 last night before dinner

seemed to work well and didn't use the ACV or the papaya enzymes

I will continue this. One problem I was having was difficulty swallowing, to the point I was choking on food that went down "wrong way" several times in each meal. That's why my allergist prescribed the Omeprazole

seems like overkill

This concerns me because my mother and a friend both take Omeprazole and it seems they still have stomach pain and trouble

from my experience it seems it causes gas and bloating

So then what? I wasn't even told about that

if simple remedy or supplement can help, why can't the word get out

not digesting your food can cause health problems.. so just treating a symptom, and not treating it very well

is a stupid idea

Is Nexium any different? I heard it was just changed a little so they could get a new patent
 
Sure, I'll do my best:)

Well, when you have a weak acid, most of it does not what we call "dissociate" in water. In other worRAB, when you put acetic acid in water, most of it stays acetic acid and does not dissociate into ions.

However, some of it does, which is why it is considered an acid; a small amount of dissociation takes place. The smaller the amount of dissociation in water, the weaker the acid. HCl on the other hand, is a very strong acid and will dissociate nearly completely in water, with very little actual HCl remaining.

Acetic acid (the vinegar we are talking about) has the chemical formula:
CH3COOH.

Add that to water and you get a very small amount of H3O+ and CH3COO- ions. The second ion I listed with the negative charge is the acetate ion.

How does this work? When you get acid reflux, there is an overproduction of HCl in the stomach. The HCl is a strong acid and dissociates completely to
H3O+ and Cl- ions. You CANNOT reform strong aciRAB but you CAN reform weak aciRAB.

To that end, the acetate ion from the acetic acid will rapidly react with the
H3O+ ions in your stomach and readily form acetic acid again. Since the offending ions are the H3O+ ions and NOT the actual HCl as explained above, the acetate ion can keep reacting with H3O+ ions to form acetic acid, which is allowed because acetic acid is weak. The Cl- cannot react with H3O+ and reform HCl because Cl- is too weak and you cannot reform a strong acid, which HCl is.

In summary, the acetate ion reacts with the H3O+ ions from your stomach acid to form acetic acid, thereby reducing the overall acidity in your stomach. Acidity is caused by H3O+ ions, not necessarily the actual aciRAB present in your stomach.

Keep in mind that there are other weak aciRAB out there that might potentially work. However, vinegar is so readily available and effective that finding another isn't really necessary.

Your almond question? I don't know off the top of my head but I will look into it.
 
I'm not sure if my issues are because of too much acid, or too little, but at the age of 24 years old, it sees like ACV may not be for me.

Is the HCL taken for the same reason the ACV is taken? If not, I may look into it. What online or real world store has a good deal on the HCL?
 
How does one know if they have too much acid or not enough acid? I take my own ph urine. I am always high alkaline. I am 53, is there a test for how much acid is in the stomach?
 
Can anyone confirm if this is true? I can't find the organic mother type near me, so don't want to order online if I don't have to. Thanks.
 
I have been reading that Apple Cider Vinegar is great for reflux.
Has anyone tried it and does it work? You are supposed to take 2 to 3 tsp. with water and drink it once or twice a day......I am tempted to try it.....I am off my prilisec and have noticed that my symptoms are slight.....Don't want them to return. I felt great while on the Prilisec but don't want to take that forever.....comments? bride527
 
As far as I know, the organic type that has the Mother in it is the only stuff that works- something about the active culture is what helps. The other stuff is organically dead.

In addition to health food stores, many grocery stores have a small "health food" section where this is sold. Fred Meyer, Carrs, Safeway, Krogers...they all carry it.
 
I think that, if one looks at this scientifically, any type of apple cider vinegar should work. I use Braggs when I use it to drink with water because I can find it in the health food store. I think the vinegar works or helps because it neutralizes the acid. There is probably nothing magical about apple cider vinegar. I used balsamic vinegar in my salaRAB and find that I have better digestion when I use it too. You may want to try a nice balsamic vinegar in your salaRAB with dinner and see if that helps your heartburn.

Rose
 
Correct. The mother or whatever, isn't involved in acid reflux at all. It's the acetic acid which all vinegar has.
 
As people age, they tend to produce less acid. The use of apple cider vinegar is too supplement the reduction of acid for those people to help digest food. If your problem is not due to a reduction of acid, this remedy would make things worse.

More specifically, many naturopathic physicians believe that the supplement betaine hydrochloride can aid GERD by increasing stomach acid. This sounRAB paradoxical, since conventional treatment involves reducing stomach acid. However, according to one theory, lack of stomach acid leaRAB to incomplete digestion of proteins; these proteins cause allergic reactions and other responses that lead to an increase in reflux. When taken as a supplement, betaine hydrochloride provides extra hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Naturopathy has long held that low stomach acid is a widespread problem that interferes with digestion and the absorption of nutrients. Betaine hydrochloride is one of the most common recommendations for this proposed condition, along with the choice of apple cider vinegar. But, scientific evidence is lacking to prove or disprove this.

Digestive enzymes are another thing we try to break down the proteins. All we can do is try and see what works for ourselves; what works for me may not work for you. Good luck!
 
I like it with some juice or soda.. the ACV actually gives it a refreshing zing. If the ACV is too strong you need more of the juice (I actually use unsweetened koolaid, that I sweeten with Splenda and saccharin to avoid Carbs) I drink a glass in the evening with dinner usually...
or more if I have gas, although I have been having less gas, certainly since I stopped the omeprazole a few months ago...

How is it any worse than salad dressing or ketchup, or sweet n sour sauce? maybe if you take too much...

to another poster: I got some HCL at Vitacost, which has supplements for much less, brand names even... I think I paid about $12 for 250 capsules of 650 mg each.

I haven't even been using them much as I don't get acid reflux much anymore, and if I do, the Papaya enzyme tabs do the trick for me. These are like little mints with a fruity taste. I think I got a jar of 600 (a serving is 3 tabs) for about $10-14... from Vitacost...
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this. Not being very savvy in chemistry (have not looked at a chemistry textbook since high school many moons ago), I have been looking for a logical explanation regarding why this old remedy might work. There is not much out there in terms of a scientific explanation. I wonder if the same result can be achieved with diluted lemmon juice. I have found that a glass of water with a bit of lemmon juice works well for me. Not as well as the vinegar, but certainly tastier.

Given your explanation, any type of vinegar should work. It does not have to be the "organic" type with the mother, etc. Your explanation should also apply to those who find that pickle juice works for them. I am assuming all these substances are weaker aciRAB with a higher PH.

Thanks again for taking the time. I am going to try to remeraber this explanation so I can pass it on intelligently when the topic arises again in the future and others ask the question.

Rose
 
I'm currently gathering courage to try ACV. It's on the bench taunting me. I hear it can be either very good or very bad. It can make some people throw up. And I don't want to throw up. I hate throwing up. I'm sure no one likes it, but I absolutely hate it. Hate hate hate. I would rather endure the hours of agony than throw up. I'd rather do pretty much anything than throw up.

Update: I'm drinking it now. It isn't too bad actually. It doesn't taste like chocolate or anything, but it isn't lethal-tasting. I used it in hot water and honey, which probably helps soften the taste.
 
Hello, Im new to this board, but I thought Id write about my experience with vinegar for treating reflux. I was diagnosed with relatively minor reflux in 1997(age 18), and just let it go for a few yrs. In 2000, I heard about vinegar as a treatment and decided to try it....

Because I eat salad for at least one meal per day, I use alot of vinegar and olive oil as dressing (I probably DRINK 2 oz of vinegar with each salad). Perhaps it was durab luck or just placebo, but I have not had issues with reflux discomfort since 2000. Furthermore, just about a month ago, I was out of town and did not have my salad and vinegar meals for about a week, and began to notice GERD discomfort return.

I notice that my stomach is almost entirely insensitive to food anymore. I can eat spicey, acidic fooRAB and have absolutely no trouble (definitely not the case 10 yrs ago). In fact, I tend to try to eat acidic fooRAB when available since it seems to help my stomach function properly.
 
If you don't have any burning in your throat or esaphogus I guess it's worth a try. But if you have pain in those places It wouldn't be a good idea. It will make it burn. The raw esaphogus and throat is probably from acid anyway, if that's what you have.
 
Hey man...I was wondering if you ever gave the ACV a try? I'm 21 male and believe the only problem i have is LPR. If yes, what kind of results did you have?
 
I tried it thinking it was a miracle cure like everyone claimed. I made mine WORSE!!! The burning was 10x worse.!!!! Be careful!!!
 
It didn't work for me. But I only did it a few times. How long are you supposed to do it before it starts working? I read that you are supposed to mix in 1 teasp. of raw honey with it. I've also tried apples, Aloe Vera juice, Zegerid, Prilosec, and Nexium. Nothing works for me.
 
My doctor recently "prescribed" apple cider vinegar therapy to me for my acid reflux, as I've been on Prevacid for 9 years and have decided that I need to get off of it, in light of the recent news that long term PPI use can contribute to hip and jaw fractures.

I'm to take 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar before each meal each day. She told me I could mix it with water if I wanted but that most people just "shoot it" so that's what I do. I just take 1 tsp straight. It's also acceptable to get my dose as salad dressing.

I started taking ACV about 2 weeks ago. I stopped taking Prevacid 3 days ago. So far I don't have any heartburn and I've only refluxed once. I must admit I haven't been entirely consistent with taking ACV before every meal and I need to try harder to give it a fair shot, but so far I'm pleased with the results and I really want to get off of Prevacid entirely- both for my health, and for my wallet. My insurance does not cover Prevacid (acid reflux was a pre-existing condition that I had before I got this insurance) and Rx Prevacid costs me over $100 a month.

The key thing is to ensure you are getting raw, unfiltered ACV with "the mother" in it. If it's been pasteurized, it won't work.
 
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