Heartburn is a burning sensation in your chest caused when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Whether it's a once-in-a-while problem or an everyday pain, folklore is rife with remedies that are supposed to cool the pain. One popular folk remedy is drinking apple cider vinegar.
Does vinegar work?
Though many people strongly believe that drinking apple cider vinegar cures heartburn, no scientific studies have been able to duplicate these anecdotal results.
The generally prescribed treatment is 2 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar in a 6-ounce glass of water three times a day for five days. When Washington Post reporter Jennifer LaRue Huget tried to track down evidence of the remedy's efficacy in November 2008, she couldn't find published studies proving apple cider vinegar did anything to alleviate heartburn. Joel Richter, professor of medicine at Temple University School of Medicine, told Huget he had "absolutely no idea how cider vinegar would help a patient with GERD [Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease] and heartburn."
Mayo Clinic lists vinegar as one of the trigger foods for acid reflux for some people, so drinking vinegar might actually make heartburn worse.
Instead of vinegar, try...
Proven remedies for heartburn include maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, avoiding clothes that are too tight, remaining upright after a meal, and elevating the head of the bed with wooden blocks about 4 inches. Over-the-counter antacids and prescription medication can also be helpful. If you suffer from frequent heartburn, put away the vinegar bottle and see your doctor.
Tags: cider vinegar, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, drinking apple, drinking apple cider