How to stop heartburn instantly, permanently & naturally for long-term health.
It’s a common misconception that acid reflux is caused by too much acid in the stomach. According to experts, acid reflux is usually triggered by low levels of acid instead, a condition called hypochlorhydria.
That’s why while treatments designed to reduce acid production may temporarily relieve symptoms, they may actually make matters worse in the long run.
The common causes of low stomach acid are:
Normal part of ageing
Weakened gut muscles
Medication like antacids, H2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
Shop our top pick Daily Pre+Prebiotic Melts now!
For this article, we analysed over 14 clinical trials and studies to get to the root of treating acid reflux, excluding those that weren’t published in reputable academic journals. For our product research into this topic, we inspected 27 natural acid reflux supplements and looked into their ingredients, efficacy for long-term health and customer experience.
How Does Low Stomach Acid Cause Acid Reflux?
When acid levels are too low in the stomach, this can lead to poor digestion where:
1. Food Isn’t Digested Properly
A strong acidic environment is required to break down food that we eat. This makes it easier for enzymes to further digest them into nutrients. However, if food isn’t properly digested, it starts to accumulate, decompose and produce excess gas. The extra food and gas pushes the stomach’s contents upwards towards the oesophagus, causing acid reflux.
2. Bad Bacterial Overgrowth
When your stomach is not acidic enough, it cannot kill germs, bacteria and pathogens that arrive from the food you eat. These toxic microbes multiply in the gut, leading to inflammation and excess gas. Similarly, they push stomach contents upwards, causing acid reflux. Common bacterial infections are H. Pylori and SIBO, which usually cause acid reflux.
In normal circumstances, our oesophagus has a “valve” that prevents this acidic backwash. However, when acid is repeatedly pushed against it, the valve can weaken and allow acid to flow through. When this happens too often, doctors characterise this as GERD (astro-oesophageal reflux disease) – a chronic form of acid reflux.
Image source: MedicalNewsToday
Combat Low Stomach Acid With “Lactic Acid” Probiotics
Probiotics are tremendously helpful for managing acid reflux. In one study where GERD patients consumed a probiotic, 79% noticed a reduction in symptoms, including regurgitation, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, abdominal pain, and gas.
Lactic acid probiotics are especially effective:
These are unique probiotics, called Lactobacilli, that produce an acid called lactic acid, which helps increase acid levels in the stomach and gut. Research shows they aid in digestion of food and are powerful at eliminating bad bacteria too.
Common examples include:
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus acidophilus
However, the modern diet of high sugar and processed foods makes it difficult for the average person to consume healthy levels of these probiotics.
The bottom line: Our research shows it’s important for an acid reflux supplement to include lactic acid probiotics, to manage this nutritional gap.
Top 3 Acid Reflux Supplements
For this ranking, we examined over 27 popular supplements for acid reflux, and graded them for efficacy, ingredient quality and customer satisfaction – and we only determined three as worthy for recommendation.
Best Overall: Daily Pre+Probiotics Melts ($49.90)
Our favourite has to be Daily Pre+Probiotics Melts by The Purest Co, due its holistic approach to gut repair. Jam-packed with gut friendly superfoods, we were impressed that it features a variety of 6 lactic acid probiotic strains. To boost the performance of the probiotics, this supplement includes a special digestive enzyme, Bromelain, and two kinds of prebiotics for an added boost.
A fellow colleague with a very sensitive stomach also tested Daily Pre+Probiotics Melts himself, and experienced no side effects.
We also love that it’s produced by a local company in Singapore – so that’s a big thumbs up for us!
Earning the 3rd spot is GastriCELL, popular among those with gastric issues, such as heartburn, acid reflux, bloating and excessive burping. It features a patented lactic acid probiotic strain, Lactobacillus johnsonii No. 108 – demonstrated to help reduce toxic bacteria in the gut, such as H. pylori and Clostridia, which can lead to acid reflux. Its formula is further enriched with a prebiotic which helps boost good gut bacteria, lactosucrose.
Judging by their over 2,000 positive reviews, it is definitely a popular product.
But upon further research, we noticed that GastriCELL may actually suppress acid production. So while it may be an effective product to relieve symptoms in the short term, it might not treat the root cause of acid reflux in the long run.
Coming up to a close second is VitaHealth’s CHARGE-UP GustoCalm, a chewable tablet that promises instant relief for heartburn & acid reflux. Its hero ingredient is Gastro-AD, a soy flour fermented by Lactobacillus delbrueckii, a lactic acid bacteria. A small study shows Gastro-AD may help ease heartburn after a longer period of consumption. It also contains peppermint and licorice, herbal ingredients known to help ease symptoms of indigestion.
VitaHealth is also a company that started in Singapore, which is a plus in our eyes!
What You Should Look Out For
✅ Includes Prebiotics
While you may have heard of the amazing benefits of probiotics, prebiotics are an unsung hero of gut health. These are indigestible fibres that lactic acid probiotics feed on to help good gut bacteria flourish in your digestive system.
But that’s not all – prebiotics also help food that’s stuck move down the gut, so they don’t ferment too long and produce gas. This aids in the relief of acid reflux, since it’s caused by too much accumulated gas and food in the stomach.
Aim to have at least 2 different types of prebiotic fibres, as they may feed different probiotic strains.
✅ Has Digestive Enzymes
Think of digestive enzymes like an extra pair of helping hands when it comes to digestion. See, people with acid reflux usually have low stomach acid. This means their stomach can’t break food down properly into nutrients. This can lead to poor nutrient absorption and cause hair fall, low energy and stomach pains.
Adding digestive enzymes to your diet can save the day. They help speed up the digestion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, while you restore your stomach’s health with lactic acid probiotics.
✅ Is Third-Party Tested
Did you know that as probiotics are a type of health supplement, they are not regulated by the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore – as long as they are not harmful? So how do you know you’re getting the lactic acid probiotics, and other ingredients, as claimed?
It’s essential to ensure the acid reflux supplement you buy is independently tested for quality, purity and accuracy. So you can enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re getting what you paid for.
✅ Protected By 100% Refund Policy
These days, any reputable brand will back their product with a legitimate money back guarantee. While shopping on protected platforms like Shopee or Amazon may help during a dispute, it’s still safer to check that the brand you buy from has a visible, public money back guarantee that you can rely on. Unfortunately some brands hide their refund policies or simply do away with them. So make sure to verify this important detail before you purchase your supplement.
Best Overall For Acid Reflux
Voted our team’s favourite.
With over 15 billion CFUs and boasting 6 lactic acid probiotic strains, Daily Pre+Probiotic Melts is our top choice for getting to the root cause of acid reflux – low stomach acid. Compared to probiotic products with an equivalent ingredient profile, this is value-for-money at under $50. Unlike capsules or tablets, their milky probiotic melts in the mouth, making it fun and easy to take. If you’re looking for a solution that combats acid reflux once and for all, Daily Pre+Probiotic Melts could be your answer.
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