40 percent of all Americans have a more or less serious problem with their upper intestinal tract: indigestion, hiatal hernia, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, ulcers, belching, burping and bloating. Ulcers notwithstanding, the most intense of these conditions is often referred to as "heartburn" but is really the invasion of acidic stomach contents into the much more tender alkaline membranes of the esophagus and has been popularized as "Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease" (GERD).

The natural protection against this reflux of stomach contents is the one-way esophageal valve that will only allow the stomach to regurgitate under extreme circumstances such as a toxic presence that it wishes to immediately evacuate. At that point, the stomach will begin cramping rather violently and vomiting results. GERD is not that severe and is probably the result of low production of stomach acid which causes the stomach contents to remain for longer periods of time in the stomach before moving on to the duodenum.

Under normal circumstances, the valve at the lower end of the stomach, the pyloric, will open when the stomach contents are adequately acidified - that is the signal. If your stomach acid content is low, it takes much longer and the contents tend to ferment. This produces an enlarged stomach from the gas which also is constantly pressing against the esophageal valve. Over a period of time, the valve weakens and small amounts of the stomach contents reflux into the esophagus causing intense burning. Allowed to continue, this will often lead to cancer of the esophagus (Barret's Esophagus).

The preceding information is exactly opposite of what you have been led to believe from the billion dollar ad agencies who tout Tums^®, Rolaids^®, Prilosec^®, Nexium^®, Zantac^®, Prevacid^®, Pepcid^®, Maalox^® and a host of other acid modifying products. But the truth is that individuals suffering from these disorders ("too much stomach acid") whose stomach acid is tested almost always find that they actually have serious deficiencies of stomach acid.

If that is true then why do these "acid neutralizers" give relief? When the stomach, a normally acid to very acid organ is exposed to concentrated alkaline substances it opens the pyloric valve in a reflex defensive action that dumps the too- alkaline contents into the more alkaline media of the duodenum. Problem solved - temporarily! Now proteins are in the digestive area where they are supposed to have been broken down into peptides in the stomach - and if they are not broken down - they are capable of acting as an allergen. Also the stomach acids sterilize the stomach ingredients so that the bacteria count is very low. If that has not been accomplished, more problems for the lower digestive tract! In summary, due to misinformation, serious lower intestinal problems and malnutrition can result from the lack of proper exposure of foodstuffs to an acidic environment in the stomach. To use acid neutralizers, or worse, acid production inhibitors (Protonix^®) can and does jeopardize your health.

Take 2 softgels morning & night for 1 week then reduce to 1 softgel morning & night or as your health practitioner suggests.