Quote Originally Posted by FakeBoobsRule
Birdgirl, did you know that antacids that contain calcium are the least effective antacids? Calcium stimulates acid production by the stomach so calcium carbonate will neutralize stomach acid initially but will cause your stomach to produce more acid 30-60 minutes later? Preparations containing aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide are much more effective! Now everyone is going to say "stay away from aluminum!" This is why milk will provide initial relief too because it is slightly basic but then the calcium starts things back up so overall it isn't very effective.
On another interesting note, antacids themselves actually deplete calcium. Which is why I find it so misleading when the antacid commercials say "and we've added calcium, something your body needs anyway". Nonsense! You're just trying to replace some of what your product is already destroying; don't try to act like you're actually giving us something! (lest you should incurre the wrath of the Wizard )



Actually, the antithesis of acid is something basic. Sugar water might provide some relief ( I've never tried it) but not because it is neutralizing acid. Sugar water should be close to neutral on the pH scale. Did you ever mix vinegar and baking soda to make those foam volcanos in school? That is because they are neutralizing each other and forming salts while giving off gas. Vinegar is the acid, baking soda is the base.
I believe the antithesis of an acid is a base (or "basid" as I've heard, but I'm not sure if this is right). Nevertheless, I'm pretty sure sugar does neutralize an acid. I originally learned this from a restaraunt manager who told us that sugar is the most effective thing to neutralize a spicy food that's burning your tongue (which I later tested and confirmed). As I learned later in biology, spiciness is causes by a high-acidity, and so I put two and two together.
You mention the experiment of putting Baking Soda and Vinegar together, 2 PH opposites, to create a volcano. We probably wouldn't want a volcanic eruption in our stomach though! Thus why I suspect sugar is the closest neurtralizing agent on the PH scale without a foamy reaction.


I could be wrong on this though, my PH-scale knowledge is very rusty at this point. Please correct me if I'm wrong on anything.
Gandalf_The_Grey Reviewed by Gandalf_The_Grey on . Help, I think I'm dying of heartburn I have GERD. Bad. I have had it under control lately(as in bearable pain). I am on 2 40 mg protonix(PPI) per day. But tonight, It is completely out of control. I took my medicine. I took a zantac150 about an hour ago. I am out of milk(which usually helps). I do not know what to do. Right now, I am in complete and utter unbearable pain. Unimagineable pain. I can imagine only chemo being more painful than this. I am burping every 3 seconds; very painful burps. Does anybody know Rating: 5