So what is the real truth about vinegar and heartburn? There is some confusion by many people on the subject and it is probably because there is so much conflicting information out there it is hard to know what to believe.

It is best to first educate yourself as to what heartburn is and what causes heartburn to better understand the dynamics of heartburn and the benefits and risks of using vinegar as a natural cure.

Many people believe that vinegar is a cure for heartburn because they claim that it neutralizes the acid in the stomach. Unfortunately, science does not back that claim up. You see, heartburn is caused by an over flow of stomach acid that leaves the stomach and makes its way up the esophagus.

Why does it do that? This usually occurs because of the types of food that are in the stomach and the quantity of the food that was consumed. If the stomach is too full or if it is too full of food that are very high in fat and acid the stomach acid can “leak” up the esophagus causing the painful experience known as heart burn. That is where that whole science thing comes in to play. Vinegar is acidic. So adding more acid to the stomach, scientists say, is a poor way to manage what is mostly an acid problem.

But isn’t vinegar natural? Isn’t it good for you? Well yes it is good for you because it does help the digestive tract due to the fact that it is acidic. This may actually allow you to feel some temporary relief from the effects of a large meal, but the risk of heartburn is still there. The acid value goes up when vinegar is added to the picture. But what about the nutritional value of vinegar, isn’t it good as a natural cure for other ailments?  I can’t attest to vinegar’s uses in other remedies, but you must remember that the processing that most vinegar undergoes before it hits store shelves removes most if not all of the nutritional value.

Vinegar is listed on many doctor’s list as HeartBurn foods To Avoid.  The fact that it is so acidic can actually cause some problems for people if it is taken regularly, Not only can it cause frequent diarrhea, it can also lead to the erosion of the stomach lining, that is no laughing matter! Have your vinegar if you must, in very small doses,  and be aware of the risks. It doesn’t appear that vinegar is the magic bullet that some have claimed it to be heart burn. It is probably best to search for other natural heartburn remedies.