@@dr.danielricciardi For a person who never had "heartburn" just LPR ( silent reflex ) , I am wonderfing why my throat hurt from morning to evening . I take my Betaine when I am eating.
I would appreciate a long winded video about digestive bitters and digestive enzymes and especially how to take them in the right order and properly and whats the difference between the bitters, enzymes and betaine hcl and pepsin. this stuff is really confusing. thanks for the great content. I appreciate you
Lol, thats because this is not traditional medicine, this is an alternative medicine with not enough research backing it up to recommend it to the general public.
@@dr.danielricciardi I apparently have Achlorhydria as I take about 8 to 12 capsules after every bite or two ... usually almost or slightly more than an entire bottle per meal... This is the only way I have been able to digest anything for the last ten years or so, and finally went raw high fat Carnivore.. What are the side effects of too much? What else is there? I don't think I would be alive without it, and certainly not physically able to move or much else...
Because he or she studied some books. Like so many things, memorizing a bunch of stuff to do well on some exams isn't really a measure of how knowledgeable someone can be. The contents of those books they are being trained on, is another conversation..
Despite fairly severe symptoms (extreme gas and bloating AAALLLL day), I found that even a single 650mg pill was too much. It got rid of the gas, but caused some heat and discomfort. I dumped out half, and that seems to be my happy spot.
Same, one pill gives me headaches but with half or even a little bit less I feel way better. I'm also really small so Idk if that is why I need less quantity.
Thank you so much for this imperative information. I was on my knees last night, popping sweatbeads, like I was in labor, I was hurt so bad. My daughter gave me baking soda water which is my new best friend. I began feeling relieved in about 3-5 minutes. I burped but not a huge burp yet I pooped in intervals for nearly 2-3 hours. I felt so much better and now I’m cleansed. I have the KAL brand Betaine 250 HCL mg with Pepsin. I’m going to test it with my high protein meals. I am using the intermittent fasting 16:8, so I’ll see how this works for me.
Really clear, I think I likely have SIBO and am having terrible trouble with bloating as well as very reduced appetite and feeling full far too long after meals. Very well explained and unusually comprehensive in this soundbyte era :). I think I might benefit and will be giving this a try. The fact you are so hunky Dr Ricciardi is just a bonus
The fastest way to fix your gut is by taking enzymes and only eating beef and beef fat soup with salt to taste. Do that for 3 months and you will be feeling so much better.
Great informative video! I’m having extreme fatigue and digestive issues for years. Was using ACV for awhile but it caused constipation and still made me cough and spit up phlegm. Tried 1 HCL at lunch along with/ digestive enzyme today and felt a difference. Hopefully this is my answer for all issues. Had colonoscopy and endoscopy done. Gastroenterologist told me all I needed was pepcid for reflux. Which didn’t help with my super low energy. Every doctor keep suggesting antacids and not looking further into the issue. Hope everyone who is dealing with digestive issue finds answers.
Hey I appreciate you sharing on here and glad to hear HCl has been helping. I agree it's unfortunate stomach acid-blocking medications are the only thing recommended to a lot of people
@@JessicaSilva-kb8yn I stopped 2 months ago. Fatigue was still there. I started just eating clean and natural probiotics like kimchi every morning. It’s seems to be helping. Restoring a healthy gut biome takes months. Fatigue isn’t so bad anymore. I’m going a natural route. Hopefully this is it.
Very good explanation Dr. Daniel I doubt any one will expain in detail like this even a layman can esily follow you.Dr. usually tells take digestive enzyme do not mention which one or how. God bless you dr.
Just quit Prilosec after 3 months by reducing the dosage and frequency over the past month and attempted to use Betaine HCL with Pepsin (per my provider) and had horrible heart burn. I'll try baking soda to see if I even need Betaine HCL/Pepsin - and I appreciate the information!
Daniel, when you say that to stay at the same dosage for 2 days before moving up, what is the reason for that? In some video, they said to move up on the next meal. Who is correct?
I was up to 12 capsules of Betaine HCl with pepsin a day during a meal. Made my Gerd symptoms much worse,constant burping and heart burn. Had to go back to pantoprozale😢
Hi Daniel, thank you for this video. I’ve done the baking soda test 3 days in a row and the results are burping at 5 min on day 1 and day 2 and 3 burping at the 10 min mark. I experience LPR/silent reflux symptoms. I had an episode of heartburn for 2 weeks, which my family doctor prescribed PPIs which still left me experiencing minor heartburn. I have since weaned myself off of the medication. Last night I took 1 Betaine HCL for the first time (I took it just before my meal, which I now know from your video that I shouldn’t do). Last night, after 1-1.5 hrs, I did experience a tingly feeling in my stomach. I suspect that I did not consume enough protein, so I ate a few Brazilian nuts and the feeling went away. This morning, I again felt a tingly feeling in my stomach after waking. Is this caused my an empty stomach for too long? I’m usually done dinner by 6:30 pm and do not eat breakfast until 8:30am. With these symptoms, should I be taking HCL only once a day to monitor or?
Hey, I appreciate your question. It's difficult to answer this. Betaine HCl boosts stomach acid only for around 45 minutes, so what you're feeling may not be related.
I went up to 10 pills with Super Enzymes 1 pill. And 8 didn't feel anything. But today I took 11 pills with 2 Super enzymes pills with 1 ancestral supplement pancreas pill. And I am getting a burning sensation 😞. I was desperate to get better but I over did it. I will just keep it at 8 pills for now on. I'm only eating 2 times a day. I will not be doing this again, I missed the part where the maximum pills is 8 per meal. I hope the 8 pills help me, because I wasn't feeling anything when I was taking that amount. The burning feeling doesn't feel good at all. I finally get the HCL pills in my system and I blew it. I've been suffering with stomach problems for a long time. This set back makes me feel hopeless. I had an ulcer before, so I am afraid to have another one. I definitely don't want to hurt my stomach. I wish I would of known this in 2008, when I saw the stupid doctor that ruined my life with pills. All I needed was a little hcl or even ACV. Everyone around me is so clueless to this... they kept telling me to go to the doctor and I listened. BIG MISTAKE 😢
hi Daniel, i wonder, if i take 1 pill per meal and i don't have acid reflux or indigest, why would i try to increase the dose in the first place instead of staying with what's working? also, how much mg of HCI with pepsin are you talking about? i see one supplement that has 650 mg HCI and 250,000 fcc pepsin, is that a good one to start with?
I'm not a doctor, but I did read that the testing with hcl is imperfect bc we could just have a really good, thick layer of mucus lining our stomachs and so we might think we have 0 acid bc we don't feel any discomfort with 2 handfulls of pils, when in reality, our body actually has something good going on. lol. But I'm still going to give this a shot. I highly doubt I am fortunate enough to have a good mucus layer, anyway.
Great video. The thing about the Bi-carb soda test is that whenever i drink water i burp immediately anyway, but i didn't have a substantial burp apart from that. While the test may be inconclusive i know i have some kind of issue because i can eat fried rice for dinner and 3hrs later it's sometimes coming back up intact.. So is it safe to just try Betaine HCL even if you are unsure?
Thank you for the great info! I will say I recently worked my way up to 6 600mg pills per meal with no heartburn then switched brands and found just 4 of the new brand caused burning. My theory is the pressed pills take much longer to dissolve than capsules and thus more is needed to hit that ph level..? Would love to get opinions on this.
thank you so much for this video. one question: if I take one capsule in the middle of my meal, it doesn’t feel right to drink it (the capsule) down with water. can I just swallow the capsule like my food in the middle of my meal? an answer would be amazing 😊
Informat8ve video. I was searching for betain hcl and found different combinations. Plz suggest what should be proper combination like betain hcl 650mg + 250000 fcc pepsin and other ingredients they mention it's magnesium stearate. Which option should I choose with magnesium sterate or without. Or what is the best combination according to you?
Would my lack of ability to sleep and disentigrating stool determine silent reflux and low stomach acid? Weakness and feels like lack of ability to gain nutrients . What’s your thoughts
Is it necessary to upping the dose? I’ve started taking a capsule before meals and 1 in the am, 1 before bed so that’s maybe 5 times a day? I’ve felt soooo much better. Necessary to up the dose? The only time I’m still having a bit of an issue at bedtime. Up my dose to 2 at bed? I’m also combing it with apple cider vinegar each time too
Good day, I have been taking Betaine HCL for a few months now, I only take them when my food is rich on onions/garlic, I love them but unfortunately my stomach doesn’t agree with them 😢. Betaine HCL works wonders for my stomach. What does Pepsin do in this case? I am thinking to start taking Betaine HCL plus Pepsin? Would it be of benefit in my case? I hope you can clarify this for me 😊, I should say that sometimes cheese foods also don’t agree with my stomach.
i have been diagnosed with low stomach acid and low b vitamins and low probiotic.....I have also lost a lot of weight......I have a problem with my vagus nerve due to a stroke.....should i try hcl ?? Greetings from Denmark
@@dr.danielricciardi would I just skip using it on a meal after a few days? Or are you talking about the post meal heartburn going away? (Which I am literally feeling right now as I type this....)
In the event that I need to take a painkiller for something else while on Betaine, what’s the best way to do it? Or any safe painkillers? Is it you just don’t use it at the same time or you can’t use painkillers at all?
Thanks for your question. While I'm not aware of drug interactions between those (off the top of my head), I haven't researched that topic, so I can't give an informed answer to that.
I have heard so many different things on when to take it. I have heard functional medicine drs say at the beginning, some say in the middle and some say after the meal. I don't know who to believe.
What is the optimal amount of pepsin in one betaine hcl capsule? Some brands have 140 mg, some have 25 brands. Some pepsin are made from porcine, some are from fingi. Which is better for malabsorption and bloating?
I tried various timing patterns to take Betaine HCL and for what it's said in this video (and my personal experience) I think that makes sense to not take it before meals I need to take at least 2 enzymes capsule in my rich protein meals (that is every meal). Each capsule contains 200 mg of Betaine for a total of 400 mg (hard math!). My Betaine capsule is 695 mg so I'm taking about 1 gr of it. OK I agree that the center of the meal is the best timing strategy but what about swallow a bite of food before the next pill ingestion?
You can definitely do that, but I'm not sure if its necessary to have a bite of food after each individual pill (as long as you are having many bites after the pills)
According to a 2020 study by Journal of Integrative Medicine, Betaine HCl lasts up to about 75 mins, so if after that, I'd guess reflux burning. I may do a video on this, you are not the first one to ask
Hey Dr. Daniel.. as of recent I have been dealing with acid reflux, bad indigestion to where it’s like the stuck at times and I have chest tightness with my indigestion. Is this all a sign of low or high stomach acid?
Hello, thanks for your video. I am discovering this product. I just don't know what brandvis best is safe to buy, and what doses. Anyone can help ? Thanks
I saw you’re other video that’s says this supplement is not good during sibo during treatment. Can I ever use it again ? It really helps me or should I avoid it forever ?
Hey thank you for the helpful info. I heard of people loving the supplement but having nightmares and mood disorders as a side effect? Any insight on that
Good question. A thought...could be indirectly related. Betaine (trimethylglycine) may boost the body's methylation cycle, which could impact neurotransmitter levels. Perhaps a lower dose of betaine may help prevent these effects.
In the video you said that the maximum dosage should be no more than 5000 mg, but if I reach 5000 mg and still feel bloated, can I take more? At 5000 mg, I still feel no heartburn. What kind of feeling should you have to know that this is the max dosage you should take?
I have really bad reflux and would desperately like to give HCL a try but don’t really know how to do it, do I need to taper off my ppi tablets first then start the HCL and do I need to have a large meal with protein ever time to take the HCL. Regard Alan
Can eat fibre as usual? Cause I’ve seen fibre like vegetables not recommended for one week if sibo. I’m not sure I have sibo, but I definitely have low stomach acid.
Thanks for the video. How potent (in mg) would you recommend getting the betaine hcl + pepsin supplement? I've seen anything from 250mg to 650mg. Thank you
Dr.Daniel, I believe I have LPR (Laryngopharyngeal reflux) or silent reflux as I don't have heartburn sensation but back of the throat irritation. Would your Betaine HCL with Pepsin instructions apply to LPR as well? And is there anything else I should be following/taking besides betaine HCL?
@@Bennymix99 It's difficult to know for sure. There are definitely other potential factors. When did this begin and are there certain times of the day it is worse?
So capsule 7 and i got the heartburn and acid reflux now, am i supposed to wait, nothing tomorrow and from then taking 6 capsules for how long? A week? And after that am i finished ore should i keep going a little bit more?
That is correct. Assuming your symptoms are gone or much improved, I'd say try using it for 3-6 months or so and then see what happens when you wean off.
There is debate whether this should be done. The argument is that ox bile weakens the acidity of the betaine hcl. I'm not aware of this being harmful to do though.
@@dr.danielricciardi if it is true that ox bile weakens the acidity of the betaine hcl, then it would be better to take ox bile well after the meal, right?
Hi, this is super helpful for me thank you! can you explain why taking too much causes heartburn symptoms when heartburn is caused by too low stomach acid and not too much?
Glad it helps! It often is due to having an open lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and adding more acid when the LES is "leaky" can irritate the esophageal tissue more.
@@dr.danielricciardi I see. So do you recommend people not take HCL if their LES is leaky? and if so, any course of action for a leaky LES? I’m trying to brainstorm the cause of my reflux and if my sphincter is generally weak I don’t know if adding more acid would help me.
What will happen if i don't take it with meals? If i take it randomly anytime of the day when i am not eating. Will it increase my stomach acid level? How to naturally increase acid level without getting dependent on this pill for lifetime?
I'm not aware of any reasons it should not be taken long term. But I do think it is always a good idea to assess the supplements/medications you take from time to time to see if they are still serving you
@@dr.danielricciardi would acv be better to take with digestive enzyme rather than hcl? I have no symptoms with autoimmune gastritis i.e burning, reflux etc its just i dont produce stomach acid at all. I take one 600mg tablet containing hcl betaine and pepsin with each meal along with one digestive enzyme
Discovered your channel only recently! Dan can I take 10 or more capsules betaine with pepsin per one meal?! 5 or 6 not enough! I still feel heavy and bloated after food and burping. And what is a maximum that you can take betaine per meal?! I’m so frustrated
I would optimize it by other means such as drinking very little liquid during meals, chewing until food is jelly-like consistency, not doing stressful activities during meals, and not overeating
I don't think there is a set amount of time. If this supplement helps, I typically recommend using it for 3-6 months before seeing if tapering off works.
Digestive enzymes containing betaine hydrochloride and pepsin cured my GERD. As GERD is a weak stomach acid problem I don't think the plant enzyme pills have any effect on the stomach part of digestion. And after a certain age you need to include the enzyme pill with bile for your gall bladder, which may also incidemtally improve your thyroid function The chewable enzyme pills burn by throat on the way down.
The instructions are nonsensical. He said that if you take a pill and feel burning then it is not for you. Ehhhh... The reason to take the pill is because we feel burning and discomfort. Of coarse, I'll feel discomfort when I take one (1) pill at the beginning. The question is, will it go away after a while of taking them. No?
I am vegetarian. I don’t eat lot of protein but I still lot of discomfort after eating any food. When I take 1-2 capsules I feel lot better. Can I continue taking it? I also tags celery juice. It’s helping me but not gone 100%. How long body takes to produce it’s own acid
Hi Dr can I drink apple cider vinegar before breakfast and betaine HCI and pepsin in the middle of the dinner or Ishould I just take betaine at breakfast and dinner.I have acid reflux. Thanks in advance
I have Barretts esophagus and the only thing that prevents heartburn pain is dexilant 60 MG. I take 1 per day in the morning. How should I try transitioning to betain hcl and ACV?
In Barretts, I would not use betaine HCl or ACV until symptoms are drastically reduced and you're able to taper off the Dexilant. Otherwise it can make symptoms way worse.
I've been on dexilant for 10 years. If I go more than 30 hrs between doses I have significant pain. Betaine did not bother me at all yesterday. I think the dexilant is messing with my iron absorption.
Hi doctor, I am taking betaine hcl and enzymes now for a while and it reduced my reflux( no vomiting or heart burn) but I have bloating and gases evenings only like around 5pm until I fall asleep, and smell is not great( worst after fruits or raw veg ) could that be SIBO ?
Should I take the HCl supplement with a liquid meal such as a protein shake? Full of protein and fat but I read somewhere that liquids are much easier to digest than solids.
Hey Ryan, that's a good question. Shakes are good because the food is already blended into very small pieces, which does make it easier to digest. I also think they can be bad for SOMEONE WITH LOW/SUSPECTED LOW STOMACH ACID, because you're ingesting a lot of extra water with your meal, which severely dilutes stomach acid. I've found it best to eat regular meals and just chew the food incredibly thoroughly until it is a "liquid" consistency. Then you're getting easier to digest food without the stomach acid dilution. Hope this helps!
I used to drink protein shakes by themselves but lately I rarely do. Now I eat a regular mean but keep the protein lite (20g) then take the pill and drink my whey protein (20g) to boost. I guess its not technically in the middle, but not at the end either since the protein drink does follow the pill. Anyway, maybe you can use 6oz instead of 8oz or 10oz in your shake. Mine is more of a protein drink than shake since its just protein and water. What do you think?
Hi Dr Daniel I’m sorry for the long text, I hope you have the time to reply. I have some questions that really worried me. I have acid reflux and I taking beatine I started with one until reaching 8 caps for each meal . Should I keep taking 8caps or slow down the dose? For how long should take betaine weeks, months? Since I started taking beatine I burp after eat even when I drink water is it normal? When i don’t take beatine anymore does it mean I’ll have low stomach acid again? If the answer is yes what should I do to stop the acid reflux thank you in advance. God bless you ❤
Hey thanks for your questions. I actually answer a lot of them in this video and in a previous video I made about betaine hcl th-cam.com/video/QhaFBDWCmUc/w-d-xo.html
Is there a specific brand or company that you recommend for Betaine HCl? There are several different options on the internet. Thank you for the information.
You said that you personally have taken up to 8 capsules of Betaine HCl. What makes you know that 8 capsules is the max that you should take and not 9 or 10 capsules?
Just want to thank you for replying to everyone’s questions. Others do it so rarely, if ever! 🙏
Aw I appreciate you noticing. I try!
Best explanation on the Internet. Daniel has helped me tremendously.
Thank you so much Andrew! My pleasure.
@@dr.danielricciardi For a person who never had "heartburn" just LPR ( silent reflex ) , I am wonderfing why my throat hurt from morning to evening . I take my Betaine when I am eating.
I would appreciate a long winded video about digestive bitters and digestive enzymes and especially how to take them in the right order and properly and whats the difference between the bitters, enzymes and betaine hcl and pepsin. this stuff is really confusing. thanks for the great content. I appreciate you
I would love to see this as well
Thanks Igor, I'll keep this in mind and am happy to make one in the future!
@@rupakshk Can do! Thanks for watching.
Good one ☝🏼
Is it a good ideas to take betaine hcl during your meal then digestive bitters afterwards?
mentioned this to my doctor and that "expert" didn't know what it was
That's not good
Don't make any more appointments with that individual.
Lol, thats because this is not traditional medicine, this is an alternative medicine with not enough research backing it up to recommend it to the general public.
@@dr.danielricciardi I apparently have Achlorhydria as I take about 8 to 12 capsules after every bite or two ... usually almost or slightly more than an entire bottle per meal...
This is the only way I have been able to digest anything for the last ten years or so, and finally went raw high fat Carnivore..
What are the side effects of too much?
What else is there?
I don't think I would be alive without it, and certainly not physically able to move or much else...
Because he or she studied some books. Like so many things, memorizing a bunch of stuff to do well on some exams isn't really a measure of how knowledgeable someone can be. The contents of those books they are being trained on, is another conversation..
I’ve been taking one capsule per meal for the post one year and it has been working really well for me
Glad to hear this and thanks for sharing what has worked!
Despite fairly severe symptoms (extreme gas and bloating AAALLLL day), I found that even a single 650mg pill was too much. It got rid of the gas, but caused some heat and discomfort. I dumped out half, and that seems to be my happy spot.
Oh nice, glad you found what works!
Half a pill per day has been enough? I didn't notice burning, but I felt it in my throat. I took it after a meal.
Same, one pill gives me headaches but with half or even a little bit less I feel way better. I'm also really small so Idk if that is why I need less quantity.
Thank you so much for this imperative information. I was on my knees last night, popping sweatbeads, like I was in labor, I was hurt so bad. My daughter gave me baking soda water which is my new best friend. I began feeling relieved in about 3-5 minutes. I burped but not a huge burp yet I pooped in intervals for nearly 2-3 hours. I felt so much better and now I’m cleansed. I have the KAL brand Betaine 250 HCL mg with Pepsin. I’m going to test it with my high protein meals. I am using the intermittent fasting 16:8, so I’ll see how this works for me.
Thanks for watching and happy it helped, good luck!
Do you drink soda wateer for what??
Really clear, I think I likely have SIBO and am having terrible trouble with bloating as well as very reduced appetite and feeling full far too long after meals. Very well explained and unusually comprehensive in this soundbyte era :). I think I might benefit and will be giving this a try. The fact you are so hunky Dr Ricciardi is just a bonus
I appreciate that and I hope it goes well with the betaine!
Hey did you try it out ?
If yes how is it going?
Optimus Prime?
The fastest way to fix your gut is by taking enzymes and only eating beef and beef fat soup with salt to taste. Do that for 3 months and you will be feeling so much better.
I would recommend getting the actual breath test to confirm your Sibo. It helps to understand what type you have
Thank you for the extremely helpful guide. I am looking to start betaine HCL and this helps a lot.
Happy it was helpful, thanks for watching!
Recommended dosage that works is often 5000 mg or 6-8 capsules!
Thank you Doctor. I’ve tried exactly as you said. And now I’m at 3 pills and I believe this is the max I can go. 😊
My pleasure and good luck!
How are u feeling now?
Great informative video! I’m having extreme fatigue and digestive issues for years. Was using ACV for awhile but it caused constipation and still made me cough and spit up phlegm. Tried 1 HCL at lunch along with/ digestive enzyme today and felt a difference. Hopefully this is my answer for all issues. Had colonoscopy and endoscopy done. Gastroenterologist told me all I needed was pepcid for reflux. Which didn’t help with my super low energy. Every doctor keep suggesting antacids and not looking further into the issue. Hope everyone who is dealing with digestive issue finds answers.
Hey I appreciate you sharing on here and glad to hear HCl has been helping. I agree it's unfortunate stomach acid-blocking medications are the only thing recommended to a lot of people
Is it still working for you?
@@JessicaSilva-kb8yn I stopped 2 months ago. Fatigue was still there. I started just eating clean and natural probiotics like kimchi every morning. It’s seems to be helping. Restoring a healthy gut biome takes months. Fatigue isn’t so bad anymore. I’m going a natural route. Hopefully this is it.
thank you so much for taking the time to make this video
My pleasure, thanks for watching!
Start with one pill per meal or per day?
Per meal is good
@@dr.danielricciardi thank you!
Very good explanation Dr. Daniel I doubt any one will expain in detail like this even a layman can esily follow you.Dr. usually tells take digestive enzyme do not mention which one or how. God bless you dr.
Glad it was helpful and thank you!
Just quit Prilosec after 3 months by reducing the dosage and frequency over the past month and attempted to use Betaine HCL with Pepsin (per my provider) and had horrible heart burn. I'll try baking soda to see if I even need Betaine HCL/Pepsin - and I appreciate the information!
Of course, good luck!
You also may have a hiatal hernia...stomach valve is open from taking the Prilosec.
So many digest-fluencers are trash
But this guy gets a subscribe
Appreciate you!
Daniel, when you say that to stay at the same dosage for 2 days before moving up, what is the reason for that? In some video, they said to move up on the next meal. Who is correct?
Both can work, I just like to go slow to see how the body reacts.
This video has helped me soo much! Thanks a million!
My pleasure!
Hey there, which is best ? with or without pepsin?
I like using with pepsin
I was up to 12 capsules of Betaine HCl with pepsin a day during a meal. Made my Gerd symptoms much worse,constant burping and heart burn. Had to go back to pantoprozale😢
because of pepsin was in HCI , that's what you don't want into your body.
Way to much
Update?
That's more likely a tomato allergy.
Thanks a million
For sure!
Hi Daniel, thank you for this video. I’ve done the baking soda test 3 days in a row and the results are burping at 5 min on day 1 and day 2 and 3 burping at the 10 min mark. I experience LPR/silent reflux symptoms. I had an episode of heartburn for 2 weeks, which my family doctor prescribed PPIs which still left me experiencing minor heartburn. I have since weaned myself off of the medication. Last night I took 1 Betaine HCL for the first time (I took it just before my meal, which I now know from your video that I shouldn’t do). Last night, after 1-1.5 hrs, I did experience a tingly feeling in my stomach. I suspect that I did not consume enough protein, so I ate a few Brazilian nuts and the feeling went away. This morning, I again felt a tingly feeling in my stomach after waking. Is this caused my an empty stomach for too long? I’m usually done dinner by 6:30 pm and do not eat breakfast until 8:30am. With these symptoms, should I be taking HCL only once a day to monitor or?
Hey, I appreciate your question. It's difficult to answer this. Betaine HCl boosts stomach acid only for around 45 minutes, so what you're feeling may not be related.
I went up to 10 pills with Super Enzymes 1 pill. And 8 didn't feel anything. But today I took 11 pills with 2 Super enzymes pills with 1 ancestral supplement pancreas pill. And I am getting a burning sensation 😞. I was desperate to get better but I over did it. I will just keep it at 8 pills for now on. I'm only eating 2 times a day. I will not be doing this again, I missed the part where the maximum pills is 8 per meal. I hope the 8 pills help me, because I wasn't feeling anything when I was taking that amount. The burning feeling doesn't feel good at all. I finally get the HCL pills in my system and I blew it. I've been suffering with stomach problems for a long time. This set back makes me feel hopeless. I had an ulcer before, so I am afraid to have another one. I definitely don't want to hurt my stomach. I wish I would of known this in 2008, when I saw the stupid doctor that ruined my life with pills. All I needed was a little hcl or even ACV. Everyone around me is so clueless to this... they kept telling me to go to the doctor and I listened. BIG MISTAKE 😢
Yes, please do not exceed 8 under any circumstances
@@dr.danielricciardi thank you, I'm using 4 with digestive enzymes and I think this is the right number. Thank you for saving us 💯🙏.
hi Daniel, i wonder, if i take 1 pill per meal and i don't have acid reflux or indigest, why would i try to increase the dose in the first place instead of staying with what's working? also, how much mg of HCI with pepsin are you talking about? i see one supplement that has 650 mg HCI and 250,000 fcc pepsin, is that a good one to start with?
I'm not a doctor, but I did read that the testing with hcl is imperfect bc we could just have a really good, thick layer of mucus lining our stomachs and so we might think we have 0 acid bc we don't feel any discomfort with 2 handfulls of pils, when in reality, our body actually has something good going on. lol. But I'm still going to give this a shot. I highly doubt I am fortunate enough to have a good mucus layer, anyway.
Immensely helpful and informative. Thank you 😊
My pleasure!
Great video. The thing about the Bi-carb soda test is that whenever i drink water i burp immediately anyway, but i didn't have a substantial burp apart from that. While the test may be inconclusive i know i have some kind of issue because i can eat fried rice for dinner and 3hrs later it's sometimes coming back up intact.. So is it safe to just try Betaine HCL even if you are unsure?
Most likely yes
I TOOK Test and did not burp , but I drank a amall glass of water, I have ibs/,sibo/,lpr/gerd
I would cut out junk and fry food 😊
Thoughts on if this is safe while nursing?? It’s so hard to find anyone knowledgeable with this.
I know it's difficult to get a straight answer on preg/nursing questions. Unfortunately I can't confidently answer that either.
@@dr.danielricciardi quick question can you recommend a brand that doesn’t use pork as one of their ingredients ?
Extremely helpful . I appreciate this ❤
My pleasure, thanks for checking out my vid!
Thank you for the great info! I will say I recently worked my way up to 6 600mg pills per meal with no heartburn then switched brands and found just 4 of the new brand caused burning. My theory is the pressed pills take much longer to dissolve than capsules and thus more is needed to hit that ph level..? Would love to get opinions on this.
Pressed tablets? I would agree with you on that
Found this most useful and will follow your procedure when I get my hcl sups.
Carbo and fats with 20g of proteins..Thank you so much.
My pleasure and good luck!
How are you now?
Do I have to take take this supplement with either dinner & lunch or only 1 time throughout the meals of the day???
You can use it multiple times of the day for each meal
How do you take the supplement in the middle of the meal? With water, or consuming the capsule with food?
A little bit of water works
@@dr.danielricciardi Okay, thank you
Does taking zinc supplement help with low stomach acid? If it does help, what type of zinc do you recommend since there are so many different type?
That wouldn't be a normal strategy I would use unless you have a known zinc deficiency or highly suspect one.
thank you so much for this video. one question: if I take one capsule in the middle of my meal, it doesn’t feel right to drink it (the capsule) down with water. can I just swallow the capsule like my food in the middle of my meal?
an answer would be amazing 😊
I don't see why not as long as you still have plenty of food left.
@@dr.danielricciardi thank you. because drinking in between a meal doesn’t feel right for me.
Informat8ve video. I was searching for betain hcl and found different combinations. Plz suggest what should be proper combination like betain hcl 650mg + 250000 fcc pepsin and other ingredients they mention it's magnesium stearate. Which option should I choose with magnesium sterate or without. Or what is the best combination according to you?
In almost all cases, the fewer added ingredients the better
What if you constantly have heartburn feeling? It would be hard to tell..😅
That is true, it would be more difficult
Would my lack of ability to sleep and disentigrating stool determine silent reflux and low stomach acid? Weakness and feels like lack of ability to gain nutrients . What’s your thoughts
It's possible, but there are many things that can cause those symptoms
Update, i had h pylori did triple therapy and added probiotics through out. I’m better now
I also took B1 and b12 shots and that made the world of difference
I notice definite relief from one capsule with 700mg Betaine, I'm going to keep it at this dosage.
Hell yea! Glad its helpful, that sounds like a good idea
I started 1 week ago. I take 750 mg HCl with 50 mg Pepsin. One capsule per meal (middle of meal). Total of 3 per day. It's working for me.
Is it necessary to upping the dose? I’ve started taking a capsule before meals and 1 in the am, 1 before bed so that’s maybe 5 times a day? I’ve felt soooo much better. Necessary to up the dose? The only time I’m still having a bit of an issue at bedtime. Up my dose to 2 at bed? I’m also combing it with apple cider vinegar each time too
No, you do not have to keep upping the dose.
Good day, I have been taking Betaine HCL for a few months now, I only take them when my food is rich on onions/garlic, I love them but unfortunately my stomach doesn’t agree with them 😢. Betaine HCL works wonders for my stomach. What does Pepsin do in this case? I am thinking to start taking Betaine HCL plus Pepsin? Would it be of benefit in my case? I hope you can clarify this for me 😊, I should say that sometimes cheese foods also don’t agree with my stomach.
pepsin in a digestive enzyme that helps with protein digestion
@@dr.danielricciardi thanks for your prompt response
i have been diagnosed with low stomach acid and low b vitamins and low probiotic.....I have also lost a lot of weight......I have a problem with my vagus nerve due to a stroke.....should i try hcl ?? Greetings from Denmark
I have vagus nerve inflammation 😞
@@zd1306please try Silicia Acid Gel
Thanku sir Iam from India
Happy to help!
How do you know when it is time to taper off?
If symptoms have improved (and the improvement is sustained), it may be an appropriate time to try
@@dr.danielricciardi would I just skip using it on a meal after a few days? Or are you talking about the post meal heartburn going away? (Which I am literally feeling right now as I type this....)
@dr.danielricciardi
How many week or month can we take Betaine HCL? 😊
In the event that I need to take a painkiller for something else while on Betaine, what’s the best way to do it? Or any safe painkillers? Is it you just don’t use it at the same time or you can’t use painkillers at all?
Thanks for your question. While I'm not aware of drug interactions between those (off the top of my head), I haven't researched that topic, so I can't give an informed answer to that.
I have heard so many different things on when to take it. I have heard functional medicine drs say at the beginning, some say in the middle and some say after the meal. I don't know who to believe.
You could see what works best for you? Ultimately that is the only thing that matters
Hello i bought this product , but i want to asking if i take omeprazole 40mg. Can i take it ? Thank you
You can still use them in the same day if you do betaine hcl during meals
Great vid...8 capsules is how many mg of hcl?
They are usually around 650 mg of betaine per capsule, so 8 capsules of betaine would be about 5,200 mg
@Dr. Daniel Ricciardi Thank you for the clarification. I am using Pure Encapsulations, and they are 520 BHCL/ 21 pepsin.
@@yvonnemairose6100 I gotcha. I'd probably still stick with 8.
Thank you. Info just what I needed!
Awesome, glad it was helpful!
What is the optimal amount of pepsin in one betaine hcl capsule? Some brands have 140 mg, some have 25 brands. Some pepsin are made from porcine, some are from fingi. Which is better for malabsorption and bloating?
The one I used in the past was 140. I don't personally have a preference on the source.
I tried various timing patterns to take Betaine HCL and for what it's said in this video (and my personal experience) I think that makes sense to not take it before meals
I need to take at least 2 enzymes capsule in my rich protein meals (that is every meal). Each capsule contains 200 mg of Betaine for a total of 400 mg (hard math!). My Betaine capsule is 695 mg so I'm taking about 1 gr of it.
OK I agree that the center of the meal is the best timing strategy but what about swallow a bite of food before the next pill ingestion?
You can definitely do that, but I'm not sure if its necessary to have a bite of food after each individual pill (as long as you are having many bites after the pills)
for someone who gets the burning after meals from reflux how should u differentiate between the betaine burning vs reflux burning
According to a 2020 study by Journal of Integrative Medicine, Betaine HCl lasts up to about 75 mins, so if after that, I'd guess reflux burning. I may do a video on this, you are not the first one to ask
Can you just stick to 2 capsules ? Or must you increase ?
You do not have to increase further if it is working
Hey Dr. Daniel.. as of recent I have been dealing with acid reflux, bad indigestion to where it’s like the stuck at times and I have chest tightness with my indigestion. Is this all a sign of low or high stomach acid?
High stomach acid is very uncommon. More likely low stomach acid than high.
@@dr.danielricciardi thanks doc I appreciate all your information it has truly helped
Hello, thanks for your video. I am discovering this product. I just don't know what brandvis best is safe to buy, and what doses.
Anyone can help ?
Thanks
Hi Eric. For betaine hcl, I do not have a particular brand I prefer. I based this video off taking ~650mg capsules.
have difficulty swallowing the capsule. Is there a small capsule for HCL
ooo good question. I have not come across one. I know a product called "pill glide" makes them more slippery and easier to swallow tho...
Thank you so much for the video.
What about eating pepper which increase hcl in stomach naturally.
Good question. I have not done that in my practice, so I cannot comment on that.
I saw you’re other video that’s says this supplement is not good during sibo during treatment. Can I ever use it again ? It really helps me or should I avoid it forever ?
You can restart it. But I normally would recommend waiting until treatment ends though.
Hey thank you for the helpful info. I heard of people loving the supplement but having nightmares and mood disorders as a side effect? Any insight on that
Good question. A thought...could be indirectly related. Betaine (trimethylglycine) may boost the body's methylation cycle, which could impact neurotransmitter levels. Perhaps a lower dose of betaine may help prevent these effects.
@@dr.danielricciardi thank you so much! Something to think about 👍🏽 appreciate it
How long to take this?
There's not a correct amount of time. If it helps, you could do a trial of 3-6 months
In the video you said that the maximum dosage should be no more than 5000 mg, but if I reach 5000 mg and still feel bloated, can I take more? At 5000 mg, I still feel no heartburn. What kind of feeling should you have to know that this is the max dosage you should take?
I'd recommend sticking to that limit. It would be a warm sensation around your sternum
You said that you personally have taken up to 8 capsules. What makes you know that 8 capsules are the limit you should take, and not 9 or 10 capsules?
Where can I buy the Betaine HCl ?
Thank you
If you're in the US, you can get that and everything 20% off here us.fullscript.com/welcome/dricciardi1628694033
What about a protein shake for a meal? That is liquid. Will it wash away the HCL?
It probably would depend on how much water is in it
@@dr.danielricciardi I take the protein shake as breakfast and use organic 3 ingredient almond milk, your thoughts 💭 please & thank you
I have really bad reflux and would desperately like to give HCL a try but don’t really know how to do it, do I need to taper off my ppi tablets first then start the HCL and do I need to have a large meal with protein ever time to take the HCL.
Regard
Alan
?
Hey Alan, it doesn't need to be a large meal, but I recommend 20-25g protein in this vid. Weaning off PPIs prior would be preferred.
I got a bottle and I will try, thanks for the info
My pleasure!
Dr, when you saying two to eight capsules, what mg per capsule? Thank you
around 600 mg betaine per capsule
Can eat fibre as usual? Cause I’ve seen fibre like vegetables not recommended for one week if sibo. I’m not sure I have sibo, but I definitely have low stomach acid.
May be something to look into!
Thanks for the video. How potent (in mg) would you recommend getting the betaine hcl + pepsin supplement? I've seen anything from 250mg to 650mg. Thank you
Hi Varit, I'd do the 650mg
@@dr.danielricciardi Thank you :)
Dr.Daniel, I believe I have LPR (Laryngopharyngeal reflux) or silent reflux as I don't have heartburn sensation but back of the throat irritation. Would your Betaine HCL with Pepsin instructions apply to LPR as well? And is there anything else I should be following/taking besides betaine HCL?
@@Bennymix99 It's difficult to know for sure. There are definitely other potential factors. When did this begin and are there certain times of the day it is worse?
@@Bennymix99 I wondered the same thing. I decided to start taking very recently. Hopefully it starts to help.
Apple cider vinegar and Betaine are they safe at the same time or do they neutralize each other ?
They serve the same purpose, so I would only use one of them
Should I use betaine hcl when eating sweets and fruits?
I don't recommend that
So capsule 7 and i got the heartburn and acid reflux now, am i supposed to wait, nothing tomorrow and from then taking 6 capsules for how long? A week? And after that am i finished ore should i keep going a little bit more?
That is correct. Assuming your symptoms are gone or much improved, I'd say try using it for 3-6 months or so and then see what happens when you wean off.
is it ok to take ox bile at the same time wit hbetaine hcl. I have seen a practictioner say this is not good
There is debate whether this should be done. The argument is that ox bile weakens the acidity of the betaine hcl. I'm not aware of this being harmful to do though.
@@dr.danielricciardi if it is true that ox bile weakens the acidity of the betaine hcl, then it would be better to take ox bile well after the meal, right?
Hi, this is super helpful for me thank you!
can you explain why taking too much causes heartburn symptoms when heartburn is caused by too low stomach acid and not too much?
Glad it helps! It often is due to having an open lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and adding more acid when the LES is "leaky" can irritate the esophageal tissue more.
@@dr.danielricciardi I see. So do you recommend people not take HCL if their LES is leaky? and if so, any course of action for a leaky LES? I’m trying to brainstorm the cause of my reflux and if my sphincter is generally weak I don’t know if adding more acid would help me.
I'd use caution, start with a low dose, and see how it affects you.
Magnesium supplementation may use helpful for LES
@@dr.danielricciardi Didn’t even make that magnesium connection before now but it makes so much sense. Thank you so much!!
But how mg of hcl we talking about here? Mines are 650 mg each, can i take 2 or more?
Proper dose is different for everyone. 2 caps at 650 per cap is a reasonable dose for many
@@dr.danielricciardi thanks for the quick reply!!
This might help me to reduce bloating and belching.
Good luck!
It's does help me with bloating and belching 😊
What will happen if i don't take it with meals? If i take it randomly anytime of the day when i am not eating. Will it increase my stomach acid level? How to naturally increase acid level without getting dependent on this pill for lifetime?
You may find this video helpful th-cam.com/video/DP_3aepaquw/w-d-xo.html
can i take betain for a lifetime? Or just in a Short Range ?
I'm not aware of any reasons it should not be taken long term. But I do think it is always a good idea to assess the supplements/medications you take from time to time to see if they are still serving you
I have autoimmune gastritis and have no stomach acid. Is it ok to take hcl with betaine and pepsin and a digestive enzyme?
Digestive enzyme is ok. You need to be careful with betaine hcl to not make symptoms worse.
@@dr.danielricciardi would acv be better to take with digestive enzyme rather than hcl? I have no symptoms with autoimmune gastritis i.e burning, reflux etc its just i dont produce stomach acid at all. I take one 600mg tablet containing hcl betaine and pepsin with each meal along with one digestive enzyme
Why do most if not all betaine hcl only add pepsin to help digest proteins, but do not add amylase to help digest carb and lipase to help digest fat?
There are some products that contain these!
it is possible to have low stomach without acid reflux i see undigest food in stool
Definitely yes. Not everyone with low stomach acid gets acid reflux.
Discovered your channel only recently! Dan can I take 10 or more capsules betaine with pepsin per one meal?! 5 or 6 not enough! I still feel heavy and bloated after food and burping. And what is a maximum that you can take betaine per meal?! I’m so frustrated
I don't recommend taking more than 8 per meal (at around 600 mg per capsule) according to the medication information guidelines.
If betaine hcl and acv are too harsh for your stomach, what other alternatives are there for low stomach acid?
I would optimize it by other means such as drinking very little liquid during meals, chewing until food is jelly-like consistency, not doing stressful activities during meals, and not overeating
Maybe digestive enzymes?
How long do you have to take these pills before stomach acid generates without the pills?
I don't think there is a set amount of time. If this supplement helps, I typically recommend using it for 3-6 months before seeing if tapering off works.
I took test but zi thought you were supposeto drink a small glass
Yes, limiting water is useful
Digestive enzymes containing betaine hydrochloride and pepsin cured my GERD. As GERD is a weak stomach acid problem I don't think the plant enzyme pills have any effect on the stomach part of digestion. And after a certain age you need to include the enzyme pill with bile for your gall bladder, which may also incidemtally improve your thyroid function The chewable enzyme pills burn by throat on the way down.
That's awesome news! Pumped to hear they helped!
Vince I thought we couldn't use it because of pepsin ?????
Are you healed now ?????
is this good for constipation as well?
Possibly, but it's not a standard constipation remedy
The instructions are nonsensical. He said that if you take a pill and feel burning then it is not for you. Ehhhh... The reason to take the pill is because we feel burning and discomfort. Of coarse, I'll feel discomfort when I take one (1) pill at the beginning. The question is, will it go away after a while of taking them. No?
Great information
Thank you!
I am vegetarian. I don’t eat lot of protein but I still lot of discomfort after eating any food. When I take 1-2 capsules I feel lot better. Can I continue taking it? I also tags celery juice. It’s helping me but not gone 100%. How long body takes to produce it’s own acid
There's not an official amount of time. I don't see a problem with you continuing to take it though.
If you need to take 3 or more capsules in the middle of the meal, should you take them all at one time or take them at intervals?
You probably could do either, but I recommend all at once
Hi Dr can I drink apple cider vinegar before breakfast and betaine HCI and pepsin in the middle of the dinner or Ishould I just take betaine at breakfast and dinner.I have acid reflux. Thanks in advance
Hi Juana, I'd use them only in the middle of meals
How much HCL in 1 capsule is recommended?
around 650 mg
I have Barretts esophagus and the only thing that prevents heartburn pain is dexilant 60 MG. I take 1 per day in the morning. How should I try transitioning to betain hcl and ACV?
In Barretts, I would not use betaine HCl or ACV until symptoms are drastically reduced and you're able to taper off the Dexilant. Otherwise it can make symptoms way worse.
I've been on dexilant for 10 years. If I go more than 30 hrs between doses I have significant pain. Betaine did not bother me at all yesterday. I think the dexilant is messing with my iron absorption.
Hi Doc, I’m experiencing chronic bad breath from my stomach. Do you know if Betaine HCL would likely help this problem ?
It depends on what is ultimately causing the bad breath. I'm not sure I'd be confident betaine hcl would help with that though
Hi doctor, I am taking betaine hcl and enzymes now for a while and it reduced my reflux( no vomiting or heart burn) but I have bloating and gases evenings only like around 5pm until I fall asleep, and smell is not great( worst after fruits or raw veg ) could that be SIBO ?
It's possible yes
Such good information. Thanks
My pleasure, thank you!
Should I take the HCl supplement with a liquid meal such as a protein shake? Full of protein and fat but I read somewhere that liquids are much easier to digest than solids.
Hey Ryan, that's a good question. Shakes are good because the food is already blended into very small pieces, which does make it easier to digest. I also think they can be bad for SOMEONE WITH LOW/SUSPECTED LOW STOMACH ACID, because you're ingesting a lot of extra water with your meal, which severely dilutes stomach acid. I've found it best to eat regular meals and just chew the food incredibly thoroughly until it is a "liquid" consistency. Then you're getting easier to digest food without the stomach acid dilution. Hope this helps!
I used to drink protein shakes by themselves but lately I rarely do. Now I eat a regular mean but keep the protein lite (20g) then take the pill and drink my whey protein (20g) to boost. I guess its not technically in the middle, but not at the end either since the protein drink does follow the pill.
Anyway, maybe you can use 6oz instead of 8oz or 10oz in your shake. Mine is more of a protein drink than shake since its just protein and water. What do you think?
Hi Dr Daniel I’m sorry for the long text, I hope you have the time to reply. I have some questions that really worried me. I have acid reflux and I taking beatine I started with one until reaching 8 caps for each meal .
Should I keep taking 8caps or slow down the dose?
For how long should take betaine weeks, months?
Since I started taking beatine I burp after eat even when I drink water is it normal?
When i don’t take beatine anymore does it mean I’ll have low stomach acid again? If the answer is yes what should I do to stop the acid reflux thank you in advance. God bless you ❤
Hey thanks for your questions. I actually answer a lot of them in this video and in a previous video I made about betaine hcl th-cam.com/video/QhaFBDWCmUc/w-d-xo.html
Is there a specific brand or company that you recommend for Betaine HCl? There are several different options on the internet. Thank you for the information.
I'm not partial towards a particular brand
@@dr.danielricciardi Is there anything specific one should look for when choosing between different versions of this product? Thank you for the reply.
You said that you personally have taken up to 8 capsules of Betaine HCl. What makes you know that 8 capsules is the max that you should take and not 9 or 10 capsules?
It's what I've seen in research studies. Higher made be safe, but I want to make evidence-based recommendations.