KAL Betaine HCL with Pepsin, Digestive Health Supplement with 250mg Betaine Hydrochloride Plus 130mg Pepsin, Gluten Free, Non-GMO, 60-Day Guarantee, Rapid Disintegration Tablets, 100 Servings, 100ct

My gastroenterologist had me on protein pump inhibitors and H2 blockers, telling me that I had too much stomach acid. The only test he did was an endoscopy. That test does NOT measure stomach acid levels. The problem is that too much stomach acid (hyperchlorhydria) versus too little stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) yields very similar symptoms. If a doctor does not actually measure your stomach acid levels, they are guessing, and there's a 50% chance they are wrong based on symptoms alone.If you have too much stomach acid, that extra acid will push up into your esophagus causing the burning sensation. Over time, it can damage your esophagus. Acid suppression medication is needed to help control the overproduction of stomach acid. However, if you have too little stomach acid, your lower esophageal sphincter will relax and not close up after eating, and the result will be that what little stomach acid you do have will escape through that non clinched sphincter, thus mimicking the symptoms of too much stomach acid by burning your esophagus. The cure for this is the opposite. You might need a stomach acid supplement in order to trigger that sphincter to clinch properly, thus preventing stomach acid from regurgitating.After some quick and easy science based stomach acid tests (YouTube search for Abundant Life stomach acid test for more info), I decided to take the advice of a naturopath, ween off the stomach acid lowering prescriptions, and tried supplementing via HCL with Pepsin.I initially started with a different brand that had 650 mg of HCL, but it was too strong. One tablet and I had a burning sensation in my throat. That was an indicator of too strong of a dose. I needed to find a lower dose product that was easier to manage and fine tune for my needs. Enter KAL's version of Betaine HCL with Pepsin!The KAL brand, at 250 mg, is PERFECT for fine tuning the dosage for your personal needs. It allows you to increase or decrease your dosage in 250 mg increments instead of massive steps. You can really pinpoint where you need to be. The fact that it includes Pepsin, which is a digestive enzyme needed for breaking down protein, is a major boon as well as an industry standard!With the very first capsule of KAL's Betaine HCL with Pepsin, I did not have any acid reflux for the rest of the day, despite eating normally. I repeated the test the next day, and the next, and the next. This cycle continued for two weeks. I NEVER had acid reflux at all. I let my doctor know, but he was very skeptical. That did not deter me. I continued to use this particular supplement for the next six months, and NEVER had another episode of acid reflux. That pretty much solidified the science in my mind.

I have taken Betaine HCL for many years after my mom starting taking it in the 1990s and it solved her digestive issues. She often had a feeling that she had a lump in her throat after eating and taking this took care of that.However, now I am more convinced that it isn't just the acidic Betaine HCL that is important, but also the pepsin contained in it. Pepsin is a very powerful protein digesting enzyme that works in the acid environment of the stomach. I find that when I take enough extra pepsin with a meal, I almost never burp up the food later.This formula contains 130 mg of pepsin per tablet, which is high compared to other products. Pepsin, like all enzymes, is better measured by strength than weight, and unfortunately the label doesn't tell the strength. So, I called KAL and they said it is 1:10,000 strength pepsin. This is a high strength pepsin, over three times stronger than the weaker 1:3,000 pepsin often used. Here is what these numbers mean. In the lab, 1 mg of this pepsin will digest 10,000 times its weight in egg protein.For my goal of a high pepsin formula, this is perfect. The only drawback of this is that it contains some calcium carbonate, which neutralizes acid. There isn't much of it, but when increasing the acidity of your stomach, you don't want an antacid in the ingredients! This is an oversight by KAL.

You can take a pill either before or after you food; try both ways & see which one is the most effective. They are a small price to pay for better digestion!

I was afraid that 250 mg of Betaine HCL was too strong dose for me... I decided start taking just 1/2 tablet and see how I would feel. I didn't feel anything different and I was still burping after having my meal, so I decided to take the whole tablet and it was perfect! I stoped burping after eating my meal and I do not feel blotted anymore! It's important to know that WE CAN NOT take Betaine HCL with empty stomach! It's an acid and for sure will hurt our stomach if we take it with empty stomach. I take 1 tablet every time I eat any kind of animal protein, including eggs. I usually take the tablet in the meddle of my meals or after my meals but within 5 minutes I finish eating, no more than that! I strongly recommend Betaine HCL for everyone 35+ yrs old since we stop to produce acid naturally.

For years I suffered with bad GERD and acid reflux. I would often regurgitate food after big meals which would lead to me feeling sick and anxious all the time.I was on PPIs for a couple years and they never seemed to work. I also didn’t want to be on a medication for the rest of my life being a young man.I tried these, one before big meals. This has been a God send for me.I often use Apple Cider Vinegar mixed in water as well if im feeling a bit bloated.Together, that combo has made me feel 99% better.

take it when you start eating something you know might give you reflux later on (for example a complex carb) ... this will help digest it and get it on its way. I also use it when I'm feeling a bit bloated stomach and I need to move things along. Too much use and you can tell (tummy will hurt like around your belly button area), in those cases follow up with sodium ascorbate over the period of a couple days to help build up your stomach lining. The whole idea is to get the stomach acid over with, not worse, not more bubbly, so use judiciously. I'm so glad I went this route, along with the wedge pillow instead of continue taking those calcium-robbing omezpranol pills (nexium/prilosec). My mom started taking those and her bone calcium is getting dangerously low.