Reflux Gourmet is a liquid supplement that's used to relieve symptoms of acid reflux. The brand describes its formulation as "made with 100% all natural ingredients."
But does Reflux Gourmet contain ingredients shown in research studies to relieve acid reflux symptoms? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients? Does it cause side effects? And is it better or worse than popular acid reflux relief products like Tums?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Reflux Gourmet to give our take on whether or not it's likely to be effective for relieving acid reflux symptoms, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll also discuss the risk of side effects, explain if the gum version is better than the liquid version, and compare Reflux Gourmet to other popular over-the-counter (OTC) acid reflux treatments to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Contains an FDA-approved active ingredient
- Contains two inactive ingredients we consider unhealthy
- We do not currently recommend Reflux Gourmet
Ingredient Analysis
The active ingredients in Reflux Gourmet Mint Chocolate Rescue are shown below:
Sodium bicarbonate, otherwise known as baking soda, is FDA-approved for acid reflux relief, as documented in a 2024 medical review.
Sodium alginate is effective for "controlling GERD symptoms in adults," according to a meta-study published in the Diseases of the Esophagus journal.
This ingredient is also clinically shown to relieve bloating, as we documented in our Unbloat reviews article.
We cannot find any research supporting calcium pantothenate for acid reflux.
The inactive ingredients in Reflux Gourmet Mint Chocolate Rescue are shown below:
Dextrose is a form of refined, added sugar, and this supplement contains 3 grams (g) of sugar per serving.
This is a suboptimal choice for a acid reflux supplement in our opinion, because simple sugar intake has been shown to worsen reflux symptoms in a 2022 clinical trial.
Natural flavor is another inactive ingredient we recommend avoiding, because it may contain synthetic solvents and preservatives, as we documented in our Blueprint longevity mix review article.
Overall, we consider Reflux Gourmet likely to be effective for relieving acid reflux symptoms, but we don't currently recommend it due to the two inactive ingredients highlighted above.
Does Reflux Gourmet Cause Side Effects?
Reflux Gourmet doesn't appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, which makes it challenging to assess the risk of side effects.
However, we can make an educated guess based on the stated ingredients.
We do not consider Reflux Gourmet likely to cause side effects in healthy adults, because it does not contain any ingredients which commonly cause side effects.
As noted in the Ingredient Analysis section, simple sugars like dextrose may slightly worsen reflux symptoms, but we expect that potential side effect to be counteracted by the reflux-reducing effects of the active ingredients.
At the time of publishing this article, there are no mentions of side effects related to the formulation on the Reflux Gourmet website.
Is Reflux Gourmet Gum Better?
Reflux Gourmet also sells gum for acid reflux.
The ingredients in Reflux Gourmet Berry Soothe Gum are shown below:
The same three active ingredients as in the liquid supplement are included in this gum, but at significantly lower doses.
The average ingredient dose in the proprietary (prop) blend in the liquid supplement was 142 milligrams (mg). The average ingredient dose in the gum's prop blend is only 8 mg, or 18x lower.
We have not come across any research studies suggesting these ingredients are effective at this low of a dose.
From a health perspective, the gum gets the edge, because it contains 0 g of added sugar (vs. 3 in the liquid supplement).
Overall, we consider the liquid supplement to be a much higher-quality formulation for acid reflux sufferers, in regard to potential efficacy.
Reflux Gourmet vs. Popular Reflux Products
Here's how Reflux Gourmet compares to other popular OTC reflux products in terms of potential effectiveness and healthiness, in our opinion:
TUMS
From a potency perspective, this is arguably a better formulation for acid reflux relief because it's better-dosed.
From a health perspective, Reflux Gourmet is the clear winner.
TUMS contains various inactive ingredients we consider unhealthy, including talc, which is clinically shown to be contaminated with asbestos in some cases.
Winner: Reflux Gourmet
IBGard
This supplement which is used for digestive relief and gut lining support contains some research-backed active ingredients.
However, for acid reflux specifically, Reflux Gourmet is better-formulated.
Also, IBGard contains artificial dyes and an inactive ingredient that's currently banned in the EU over toxicity concerns, as we documented in our IBGard reviews article.
Winner: Reflux Gourmet
Rolaids
Contains artificial food dye and is a much less healthy overall formulation
Winner: Reflux Gourmet
Reflux Gourmet Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Contains active ingredients for acid reflux relief
- Contains an active ingredient for bloating relief
- Should relieve acid reflux symptoms
- No significantly unhealthy additives
- Unlikely to cause side effects
- Healthier formulation than competitors
Cons:
- Contains added, refined sugar
- Contains natural flavors
- May be underdosed
- Gum formulation is definitely underdosed in our view
- Doesn't appear to be clinically tested
