The Truth about Vinegar for Heartburn

Should vinegar be a part of your heartburn diet? While dozens of types of vinegar are available to western consumers, both medical doctors and alternative medicine specialists recommend only one of these vinegars for heartburn sufferers. In this article, a certified nutritionist discovers what types of vinegar should be strictly avoided by heartburn patients, and the type of vinegar that should not only be a part of your diet but is also a powerful remedy that will significantly improve your medical condition.

Heartburn is the burning sensation in the chest and/or throat area, often accompanied by a bitter or sour taste in the back of the throat. While occasional heartburn (experienced once in a week or less frequently) can occur even in healthy individuals, persistent heartburn is considered to be a typical symptom of a disease called acid reflux, or GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease). Apart from heartburn, symptoms of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease may include difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, weight loss and asthma complications. Left untreated, GERD can lead to a more serious condition known as Barrett's esophagus, increasing the risk of esophageal cancer.

Technically speaking, gastro esophageal reflux disease is the result of a weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES)-a ring of muscle that acts as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. In a healthy organism, the sphincter allows food and water to pass into the stomach but prevents the stomach's highly acidic contents from splashing back. However, when it is weakened due to certain conditions that will be referred later, acid can leak back into the esophagus (a process also known as acid reflux), touching the lining of the esophagus thus causing heartburn.

GERD is a complex condition that is triggered by several primary factors and secondary factors and the correlation between both. There are various factors and co-factors that contribute to GERD occurrence, and there are causative agents that aggravate an already existing acid reflux condition. Among those contributing factors are:

Over production of stomach acid. In several cases (usually due to the genetic tendency), the human organism may produce an abnormal amount of intestinal acid that damages the esophagus when it comes into contact with it.

Candida overgrowth. Candida is a medical term for the single celled fungi that is normally found in the human organism (predominantly in the intestines and the genital area) in small harmless amounts and is balanced by the healthy beneficial flora. Under certain conditions, Candida grows out of control, breaks through the intestinal walls and travels through the body, depressing the immune system and producing more than 79 different toxins that may be responsible for numerous medical impairments including GERD. 

Most types of vinegar, including white vinegar, wine vinegar, malt vinegar and balsamic vinegar have several properties that contribute to the aggravation of the conditions mentioned above. Firstly, they are all acid forming (i. e. the consumption of these foods leads to extra acidity in the blood and the intestines, which contributes to the frequency of experiencing of acid reflux and to its level of severity). Secondly, these vinegars are among the top foods (together with refined carbohydrates, such as white flour and sugar) that are known for encouraging Candidal overgrowth.

Organic apple cider vinegar when ingested cannot only alkalize your system (being the only alkaline forming vinegar), it can also significantly relieve the inflammation of the esophagus and help control Candida.  

It is important to note that since heartburn is a symptom of a complex condition that is triggered by numerous underlying factors, there is no quick fix remedy or food that can reverse and prevent its recurrence. The only way to stop heartburn is to tackle the internal environment that contributes to acid reflux formation in the first place.