The REAL cause of heartburn?

One of the most unpleasant digestive complaints is heartburn.

That awful burning sensation in your lower chest after you’ve eaten may make you feel like you never want to eat again.

The issue is common.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, up to 15 million people experience the condition daily in the U.S.

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid (also called hydrochloric acid or HCl) moves up into the esophagus.

Now, when it comes to digestion, up is not the direction you want things to be moving.

The go-to remedy for heartburn is typically antacids and acid-blocking drugs because everyone assumes that the condition is caused by too much acid.

They might be wrong.

You may be surprised to learn that some heartburn is actually caused by too little acid in the GI tract.

In fact, some health experts estimate that up to 90% of Americans produce too little stomach acid.

Older adults are particularly at risk of too little stomach acid because production declines with age.

And if you don’t have enough stomach acid, the absolute last thing you want to be taking is antacids that will deplete you of what little acid you have left.

How do you know if you have too much… or too little… acid?

Take this simple baking soda test.

You’ll need just 4 things for the test: baking soda, cold water, a cup, and a timer.

Here’s how it works…

Baking soda and stomach acid create a chemical reaction in your stomach.

The result of this reaction is carbon dioxide gas… which causes burping.

A burp within three minutes of drinking the baking soda solution may indicate an adequate level of stomach acid.

A burp after three minutes (or not at all) may indicate a low level of stomach acid.

When you first wake up in the morning… before eating or drinking anything… mix ¼ teaspoon of baking soda with 4 ounces of cold water.

Drink the solution and start your timer and see how long it takes you to burp.

(Note… if you have not burped within five minutes, stop timing.)

Repeat the test for 3-5 consecutive days to get the most accurate reading.

Obviously, if the test indicates that your stomach acid levels are low, you want to avoid antacids and acid-blocking meds.

I would recommend you avoid those medications even if your stomach acid is too high, too, because they are known to have some awful side effects.

Instead, focus on addressing your heartburn naturally.

Drinking aloe vera juice or a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with water before eating have been shown to help with heartburn.

You also want to avoid common trigger foods like citrus fruits, dairy products (cheese, milk), spices, oily food, caffeinated drinks… and limit late night meals and snacking.

Stomach acid production can be inhibited by stress, so you want to do all you can to lower your stress levels.

Sleeping on your left side is also recommended because this position helps the body release more fluids to neutralize stomach acid.

Acid-blocking medications are the third top-selling type of drug in America today.

There’s really no reason to continue to line the pockets of Big Pharma.

Especially when they might not even address the true source of your heartburn.

Take the test and find out.

Then fight your heartburn naturally.