---
product_id: 3635126
title: "Supplements, Betaine HCl 648 mg, Vegetarian Formula, Digestive Support*, 120 Veg Capsules"
brand: "now foods"
price: "VT6346"
currency: VUV
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
category: "Now Foods"
url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/3635126-supplements-betaine-hcl-648-mg-vegetarian-formula-digestive-support-120
store_origin: VU
region: Vanuatu
---

# Non-GMO, Soy-Free, Vegan, Halal Certified 100% Vegetarian acid-stable protease 648 mg Betaine HCl per capsule Supplements, Betaine HCl 648 mg, Vegetarian Formula, Digestive Support*, 120 Veg Capsules

**Brand:** now foods
**Price:** VT6346
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🔥 Elevate your gut game — digestion perfected, naturally! 🌿

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Supplements, Betaine HCl 648 mg, Vegetarian Formula, Digestive Support*, 120 Veg Capsules by now foods
- **How much does it cost?** VT6346 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/3635126-supplements-betaine-hcl-648-mg-vegetarian-formula-digestive-support-120)

## Best For

- now foods enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted now foods brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Clean & Certified:** Free from soy, dairy, nuts, eggs; Non-GMO, vegan, halal, keto-friendly for mindful lifestyles.
- • **Family-Owned Legacy:** Crafted in the USA by NOW Foods, a trusted name since 1968, blending tradition with innovation.
- • **Plant-Powered Formula:** Vegetarian, acid-stable protease mimics natural pepsin without animal derivatives.
- • **Trusted Quality Assurance:** NPA A-rated GMP certification ensures rigorous testing for potency and purity.
- • **Precision Digestive Support:** 648 mg Betaine HCl to optimize stomach acid levels and enhance protein digestion.

## Overview

NOW Foods Betaine HCl delivers 648 mg of potent digestive support per vegetarian capsule, designed to restore optimal stomach acid levels and improve protein breakdown. This clean, allergen-free formula is Non-GMO, vegan, soy- and dairy-free, and produced under strict GMP standards by a family-owned US company since 1968. Ideal for professionals seeking a natural, effective solution to acid reflux, GERD, and digestive discomfort, it empowers you to reclaim digestive balance and nutrient absorption with confidence.

## Description

NOW Betaine HCl is formulated to support proper digestive conditions in the stomach.* Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is normally produced in the stomach, where it assists protein digestion by activating pepsin, helps to maintain a healthy balance of gut flora, and stimulates the release of intestinal enzymes.* Pepsin is a protease produced in the stomach that partially breaks down proteins in foods.* HCl production tends to decline with age, so supplementing with HCl and pepsin may help to maintain normal digestive function.* This product uses a vegetarian acid-stable protease with activity equivalent to that of animal-derived pepsin. Natural color variation may occur in this product.

Review: low gastric acid as part of "leaky gut" - I still have a hard time scientifically explaining how low stomach acid can cause or contribute to acid reflux, but it seems to be that when you eat something you can't digest, it sits in your stomach and the pressure causes the lower esophageal sphincter to malfunction and allow food and gastric juices, which includes acid, to be refluxed back up the esophagus as all too many of us are familiar with, as heartburn, or for the long term, as GERD. Not to mention, that food never gets properly digested leading to irritation, inflammation, altered GI transit time and pH, maldigestion, and malabsorption of important nutrients, and intestinal disorders such as IBS, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (due to change in pH), or intestinal hyperpermeability, or "leaky gut" which I have been told by my holistic doctor that I most likely have. A tip for the acid reflux - I was initially able to get it under control using D-limonene (Jarrow) once a day and within two weeks was almost completely weaned off Prilosec. I had also put myself on a strong, high quality probiotic (Hyperbiotics PRO-15 regular strength "pearls") at a high dose of one three times daily for a month, which made a huge difference with the reflux and how my entire intestinal tract felt. That's when I decided it was time to test the Betaine Hcl with Pepsin. I don't eat big high protein meals, so I started off with one or two before a meal. When I ate larger meals with more protein, I upped it to three or four. I always kept adding a couple after I ate if I felt food sitting there. This worked great for a week or two then I gradually I got a mild gastritis and an occasional reoccurring of reflux. I figured out that for me, and the small meals I needed to eat, it worked much better to just take one or maybe two and definitely after I ate not before, and not try to fine tune it. I just have to take it after everything I eat, even just snacks. There had been too much time elapsing when I took it first before the food, I realized, and I felt it burning in my stomach, which I knew wasn't right. But I knew in my case it didn't mean I didn't need it, which it could mean in someone else's situation.. The day I started the Betaine Hcl it is the day I stopped the Prilosec completely. I just needed to fine tune the timing of taking it to what was right for me. (seems like some others even make it a point to take it on an empty stomach before meals, which I would never do due to the burning. I do think I have a more recent onset mild case of low stomach acid, and my small low protein meals are a factor. I have a lot of other supplements that I take, usually with meals but before, and I was just taking these in with the mix, Once I switched to taking both the Betaine Hcl and the digestive enzymes I take (NOW Ultimate enzymes and Gluten Digest) immediately after eating, and eased up on trying to titrate so exactly to my meal, things have been going well. I still take the D-limonene daily after dinner to keep the reflux at bay. I think I have much more than low stomach acid - I think I have intestinal hyperpermeability or "leaky gut" and so I added to my regimen licorice root (Nature's Way - non DGL), aloe vera gel (NOW) and slippery elm (NOW) along with L-Glutamine (Jarrow) all which are soothing and healing to the entire GI tract including the stomach and the esophagus, helping further with reflux. All I had to do therefore, after feeling the burning and realizing I was making things temporarily worse, was take a week off the Betaine, during which the reflux worsened but the gastritis resolved, Then I started it up again as described, after meals, and I have not felt food sitting in my stomach once since then, never taking more than one or two capsules a meal, but needing to take it even after any snack, whether protein containing or not. I wanted to describe all that was unique to my experience, since it seems to be more complicated than most, in case it helps someone else. I intend to continue the Betaine Hcl along with the other supplements I am on that I have described, for the forseeable future. Leaky gut takes many months to heal, and low stomach acid can be a contributing factor to causing it or to perpetuating it only revealing itself with the acid reflux in my case. I had few other symptoms initially, although I suspect I had small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, another sequelae of low stomach acid, based on my phenomenal response to the probiotics, but then things kind of snowballed, I was first diagnosed with a seemingly unrelated autoimmune thyroid condition (Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis/hypothyroidism), which was my first clue something might be wrong with my gut, and is what led to my holistic doctor's diagnosis of intestinal hyperpermeability. It can be a cause or effect of autoimmune disorders, low stomach acid is almost always a component, and the "leaky gut" has to be healed to reverse or effectively treat the autoimmune disorder. The Betaine Hcl is playing an important role in this. Hopefully at some point in the future, I will notice some mild burning even taking it after a meal, that will indicate to me that I have regained my own stomach acid's normal production, and then I will know I may be able to stop it altogether. I am not clear if this happens with everyone or just sometimes. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't happen with me for a long time at least because of the complexity of the situation. But, regardless and best of all, I've been off Prilosec since starting this, which along with the healing, makes it worth it alone. Prilosec, and other acid reducers, despite being recommended by most doctors, are dangerous drugs to be on long term, because they do the opposite of what you need, reduce stomach acid even further, and impairs GI function, digestion, and nutrient absorption. Anyway, anyone with GI issues especially occasional to severe acid reflux or chronic GERD, especially if you are on antacids or acid reducers, I would highly recommend to try the Betaine Hcl to see if it helps instead and better, because it probably will. There are few if any reviews that state otherwise from those who have actually tried it. If you don't believe it try Googling "GERD and low stomach acid" - that's what I did to convince myself. There are other ways to test, but none so straightforward and directly helpful.as just trying it. It even helps me with my more complex situation, and especially helps me as I feel it is an important component to eventually being well again, however long tha! takes. Having stomach acid is important to proper digestion and being well! I was a little nervous to try it, 'it's the real deal, and can't do any real lasting harm, even to me,with my sensitive situation and system. I intend to keep purchasing NOW brand and taking this product as long as I need it, which is for the forseeable future. Highly recommend and Good luck! Update: A couple months ago I slowly tapered off this supplement along with the Aloe Vera and digestive enzymes, and did very well. I went on a vacation and I think the change in my diet caused mild symptoms of acid reflux to return. I immediately restarted the Betaine, Aloe, and digestive enzymes, along with D-limonene the first week or so, and my symptoms resolved again. I plan to continue all this for a couple of weeks, and then continue the Betaine permanently while attempting to taper off the others again. I have also tapered off the L-glutamine, but I don't think that is related. I have never stopped the probiotics nor do I plan to. I am trying to balance the number of supplements I am taking to make it as minimal as possible while still controlling my symptoms and my disease pathways. I take a number of other supplements too and the cost as well as the annoyance of taking so many pills can get to me, so I am just tryiing to find a balance. I think that balance is continuing the Betaine indefinitely to control the acid reflux, and managing flare-ups with the others (although the idea is to take what is required minimally to prevent flare-ups)
Review: I can't believe it works, but I am off acid reducers finally! - I have been taking famotidine, an over-the-counter acid reducer every night for probably the last 6 years to keep from getting woken up in the middle of the night with that horrible throat-burning reflux. In addition to that, I frequently get heartburn during the day and have to pop a couple of TUMS just to be able to bear the pain. I also had a lot of rules I made for myself about what I could eat, when I could eat and how much I could eat just to try to control the heartburn/GERD. Chocolate was completely out of the question, and I wouldn't even dream of eating anything after 7:30 p.m. or I would be awoken by acid that night. Even taking all of those acid reducers and following all my crazy food rules, I still had occasions when I would have horrible heartburn and reflux. Recently I started worrying about what all this medicine was doing to my health. My fingernails and hair have become extremely dry and brittle and break easily. I have also lost a lot of hair. I'm 31 years old and my hair has gone from very thick and shiny to very, very thin and fine. After tons of research, I discovered that being on acid reducers for long periods of time can create nutrient deficiencies because you're not digesting your food properly and absorbing the vitamins you need. I decided I had to get off the acid reducers for good. I read about Betaine HCL and decided I would try it. I was nervous about quitting the acid reducers cold turkey, but I knew I had to. Since the HCL supplements acid, I would just offset the effects of it if I took a TUMS or acid reducer. Shockingly, the very first day I took the HCL, my acid reflux was gone. I barely slept that night because I kept thinking the GERD was going to have to strike soon, but it never did. I had very minor heartburn and some stomach pain for the next 3 or 4 days, mainly when I hadn't eaten or taken the HCL in a while. I read about drinking homemade chicken broth to help heal your stomach lining, so I made some homemade soup and ate that for lunch all week. I've been taking it for about 2 weeks now, and I have had zero heartburn or stomach pain/burning this week at all. When I eat, I don't feel like it's just sitting in my stomach. I even ate a chocolate bar as a test. In the past, eating chocolate would have me up all night with reflux. I had no reaction to the chocolate bar at all when I ate it with an HCL pill. I have not had any acid reflux at all since Day 1 of starting the HCL. It has been a miracle supplement for me. I'm hoping that now that I am healing my digestion, I can cure any lingering vitamin deficiencies and restore my good health. I have been taking 1 pill with each meal and usually 2 pills with dinner. If you don't eat a lot of protein with a meal, don't take as many because you don't need as much stomach acid. You have to experiment and find out how many pills is right for you. Some people say they have to take 6 or 7 to get effects, but I have not needed nearly that many. I will update this review in a few months and let you know how it's going. UPDATE 6/2014: I have been heartburn free for months now! It is such a miracle. I still stand by my review that this is a great product. However, I sometimes have to take up to 3 of these at each meal. I ordered Doctor's Best instead of NOW brand on my last order, and I believe they are superior to this NOW brand. I only have to take 1 pill with dinner and have even gone a couple of days without taking anything with the Doctor's Best brand. With NOW, I had to be careful to get the dosage high enough. I highly, highly recommend trying betaine HCL if you have acid reflux or GERD, but I would go with Doctor's Best instead of NOW. UPDATE 10/2015: It's been over a year and a half since I first started taking betaine HCL. I am extremely happy to report that I still have no heartburn. I don't even take the betaine HCL anymore. Even eating my previous trigger foods does not give me heartburn. This product and the Doctor's Best brand of the betaine HCL literally changed my life. I can sleep at night. I haven't been woken up choking on acid in a long, long time. When I wake up, I don't have a disgusting acid taste in my mouth. In the comments, some people wanted to know if my health changed. My fingernails did get a lot better after I stopped the acid reducers. The aren't flakey and brittle anymore. My hair doesn't seem to grow in thick like it used to, but it is definitely shiny and doesn't look lifeless like it used to. I feel 100 percent better than I did when I was trying to struggle through each day on a mix of eating restrictions and acid reducers.

## Features

- DIGESTIVE SUPPORT*: Formulated with 648 mg betaine HCI to support proper digestive conditions in the stomach*
- VEGETARIAN FORMULA: Uses a vegetarian acid-stable protease
- CERTIFICATIONS/CLASSIFICATIONS: Soy Free, Non-GMO, Vegan, Nut Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Halal, Keto Friendly
- GMP Quality Assured: NPA A-rated GMP certification means that every aspect of the NOW manufacturing process has been examined, including our laboratory/testing methods (for stability, potency, and product formulation)
- Packaged in the USA by a family owned and operated company since 1968

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B000M4CD2C |
| Age Range Description | Adult |
| Allergen Information | Dairy Free, Egg Free, Non-GMO, Nut Free, Soy Free |
| Best Sellers Rank | #6,801 in Health & Household ( See Top 100 in Health & Household ) #163 in Blended Vitamin & Mineral Supplements #923 in Sales & Deals |
| Brand | NOW Foods |
| Brand Name | NOW Foods |
| Color | Beige |
| Container Type | Bottle |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,302 Reviews |
| Diet Type | Halal, Keto, Kosher |
| Dosage Form | Capsule |
| Flavor | Unflavored |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00733739029386 |
| Item Dimensions | 2.5 x 2.5 x 4.44 inches |
| Item Form | Capsule |
| Item Weight | 0.16 Kilograms |
| Manufacturer | NOW Sports - Nutrition and Wellness |
| Material Features | Vegetarian |
| Material Type Free | soy, dairy, egg, nut |
| Model Name | NOW Supplements, Betaine HCl 648 mg, Vegetarian Formula, Digestive Support*, 120 Veg Capsules |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Pill Coating | Hypromellose |
| Primary Supplement Type | protein |
| Product Benefits | Digestive Health Support |
| Special Ingredients | Betaine |
| Specific Uses For Product | Digestive Support |
| Supplement Formulation | Individual Supplement |
| Total Servings Per Container | 60 |
| UPC | 733739029386 |
| Unit Count | 120 Count |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** NOW Foods
- **Diet Type:** Halal, Keto, Kosher
- **Flavor:** Unflavored
- **Item Form:** Capsule
- **Item Weight:** 0.16 Kilograms
- **Item dimensions L x W x H:** 2.5 x 2.5 x 4.44 inches
- **Primary Supplement Type:** protein
- **Product Benefits:** Digestive Health Support
- **Special Ingredients:** Betaine
- **Unit Count:** 120 Count

## Images

![Supplements, Betaine HCl 648 mg, Vegetarian Formula, Digestive Support*, 120 Veg Capsules - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/7181GevTn1L.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Size** options.

## Questions & Answers

**Q: What's the difference between this and a digestive enzyme product?**
A: This adjusts the PH of your stomach towards more acidic. IF you have ulcers do not take. They state that but I think some people may miss that IMPORTANT information. I have ulcers I caught it. I use the enzymes which help with digestion and do not change the actual PH on their own of the stomach. The ulcers are not related to bacterial caused ulcers in other words not H. pelori or other similar ulcer causing bacteria. It would be dangerous for me to take anything that made my condition more acidic. Enzymes like bromelain's & other enzymes are famous in helping to digest food but not through changing the acidic levels specifically. The Betaine HCI changes PH to more acidic. I used to take vinegar and lemon juice thinking it would help to. NOT when you have severe ulcers. I'm not alkaline and so if anything I'd need to make sure I'm not relying on acids in my diet including this one.

**Q: DOES THIS PRODUCT CONTIAN PORK**
A: According to the Label it says it's a 'Vegetarian Formula"; and "This product uses a vegetarian acid-stable protease with activity equivalent to that of animal-derived pepsin". Therefor My understanding, is No it does NOT contain Pork!

**Q: Is this a gluten-free supplement?**
A: It is NOT gluten-free. Look at the information at the top of the page. It says it's "Soy-free" and "Egg-free", but not gluten-free. Also, one of the reviewers contacted 'Now', and was sent this reply:

"Thank you for contacting NOW Foods. The fungal pepsin uses wheat in the fermentation media. We do not perform testing for gluten so do not know how much may be in finished product.

Thank you,
Sarah
NOW Product Information Group"

**Q: They say dont take betaine, with advil etc, but I dont take advil etc, What if I get a headache?I cant take it cause I took Betaine with my meals?**
A: I am unable to take advil because of kidney failure.  I take Tylenol. I hope this helps!

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ low gastric acid as part of "leaky gut"
*by A***H on March 26, 2017*

I still have a hard time scientifically explaining how low stomach acid can cause or contribute to acid reflux, but it seems to be that when you eat something you can't digest, it sits in your stomach and the pressure causes the lower esophageal sphincter to malfunction and allow food and gastric juices, which includes acid, to be refluxed back up the esophagus as all too many of us are familiar with, as heartburn, or for the long term, as GERD. Not to mention, that food never gets properly digested leading to irritation, inflammation, altered GI transit time and pH, maldigestion, and malabsorption of important nutrients, and intestinal disorders such as IBS, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (due to change in pH), or intestinal hyperpermeability, or "leaky gut" which I have been told by my holistic doctor that I most likely have. A tip for the acid reflux - I was initially able to get it under control using D-limonene (Jarrow) once a day and within two weeks was almost completely weaned off Prilosec. I had also put myself on a strong, high quality probiotic (Hyperbiotics PRO-15 regular strength "pearls") at a high dose of one three times daily for a month, which made a huge difference with the reflux and how my entire intestinal tract felt. That's when I decided it was time to test the Betaine Hcl with Pepsin. I don't eat big high protein meals, so I started off with one or two before a meal. When I ate larger meals with more protein, I upped it to three or four. I always kept adding a couple after I ate if I felt food sitting there. This worked great for a week or two then I gradually I got a mild gastritis and an occasional reoccurring of reflux. I figured out that for me, and the small meals I needed to eat, it worked much better to just take one or maybe two and definitely after I ate not before, and not try to fine tune it. I just have to take it after everything I eat, even just snacks. There had been too much time elapsing when I took it first before the food, I realized, and I felt it burning in my stomach, which I knew wasn't right. But I knew in my case it didn't mean I didn't need it, which it could mean in someone else's situation.. The day I started the Betaine Hcl it is the day I stopped the Prilosec completely. I just needed to fine tune the timing of taking it to what was right for me. (seems like some others even make it a point to take it on an empty stomach before meals, which I would never do due to the burning. I do think I have a more recent onset mild case of low stomach acid, and my small low protein meals are a factor. I have a lot of other supplements that I take, usually with meals but before, and I was just taking these in with the mix, Once I switched to taking both the Betaine Hcl and the digestive enzymes I take (NOW Ultimate enzymes and Gluten Digest) immediately after eating, and eased up on trying to titrate so exactly to my meal, things have been going well. I still take the D-limonene daily after dinner to keep the reflux at bay. I think I have much more than low stomach acid - I think I have intestinal hyperpermeability or "leaky gut" and so I added to my regimen licorice root (Nature's Way - non DGL), aloe vera gel (NOW) and slippery elm (NOW) along with L-Glutamine (Jarrow) all which are soothing and healing to the entire GI tract including the stomach and the esophagus, helping further with reflux. All I had to do therefore, after feeling the burning and realizing I was making things temporarily worse, was take a week off the Betaine, during which the reflux worsened but the gastritis resolved, Then I started it up again as described, after meals, and I have not felt food sitting in my stomach once since then, never taking more than one or two capsules a meal, but needing to take it even after any snack, whether protein containing or not. I wanted to describe all that was unique to my experience, since it seems to be more complicated than most, in case it helps someone else. I intend to continue the Betaine Hcl along with the other supplements I am on that I have described, for the forseeable future. Leaky gut takes many months to heal, and low stomach acid can be a contributing factor to causing it or to perpetuating it only revealing itself with the acid reflux in my case. I had few other symptoms initially, although I suspect I had small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, another sequelae of low stomach acid, based on my phenomenal response to the probiotics, but then things kind of snowballed, I was first diagnosed with a seemingly unrelated autoimmune thyroid condition (Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis/hypothyroidism), which was my first clue something might be wrong with my gut, and is what led to my holistic doctor's diagnosis of intestinal hyperpermeability. It can be a cause or effect of autoimmune disorders, low stomach acid is almost always a component, and the "leaky gut" has to be healed to reverse or effectively treat the autoimmune disorder. The Betaine Hcl is playing an important role in this. Hopefully at some point in the future, I will notice some mild burning even taking it after a meal, that will indicate to me that I have regained my own stomach acid's normal production, and then I will know I may be able to stop it altogether. I am not clear if this happens with everyone or just sometimes. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't happen with me for a long time at least because of the complexity of the situation. But, regardless and best of all, I've been off Prilosec since starting this, which along with the healing, makes it worth it alone. Prilosec, and other acid reducers, despite being recommended by most doctors, are dangerous drugs to be on long term, because they do the opposite of what you need, reduce stomach acid even further, and impairs GI function, digestion, and nutrient absorption. Anyway, anyone with GI issues especially occasional to severe acid reflux or chronic GERD, especially if you are on antacids or acid reducers, I would highly recommend to try the Betaine Hcl to see if it helps instead and better, because it probably will. There are few if any reviews that state otherwise from those who have actually tried it. If you don't believe it try Googling "GERD and low stomach acid" - that's what I did to convince myself. There are other ways to test, but none so straightforward and directly helpful.as just trying it. It even helps me with my more complex situation, and especially helps me as I feel it is an important component to eventually being well again, however long tha! takes. Having stomach acid is important to proper digestion and being well! I was a little nervous to try it, 'it's the real deal, and can't do any real lasting harm, even to me,with my sensitive situation and system. I intend to keep purchasing NOW brand and taking this product as long as I need it, which is for the forseeable future. Highly recommend and Good luck! Update: A couple months ago I slowly tapered off this supplement along with the Aloe Vera and digestive enzymes, and did very well. I went on a vacation and I think the change in my diet caused mild symptoms of acid reflux to return. I immediately restarted the Betaine, Aloe, and digestive enzymes, along with D-limonene the first week or so, and my symptoms resolved again. I plan to continue all this for a couple of weeks, and then continue the Betaine permanently while attempting to taper off the others again. I have also tapered off the L-glutamine, but I don't think that is related. I have never stopped the probiotics nor do I plan to. I am trying to balance the number of supplements I am taking to make it as minimal as possible while still controlling my symptoms and my disease pathways. I take a number of other supplements too and the cost as well as the annoyance of taking so many pills can get to me, so I am just tryiing to find a balance. I think that balance is continuing the Betaine indefinitely to control the acid reflux, and managing flare-ups with the others (although the idea is to take what is required minimally to prevent flare-ups)

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I can't believe it works, but I am off acid reducers finally!
*by A***R on March 11, 2014*

I have been taking famotidine, an over-the-counter acid reducer every night for probably the last 6 years to keep from getting woken up in the middle of the night with that horrible throat-burning reflux. In addition to that, I frequently get heartburn during the day and have to pop a couple of TUMS just to be able to bear the pain. I also had a lot of rules I made for myself about what I could eat, when I could eat and how much I could eat just to try to control the heartburn/GERD. Chocolate was completely out of the question, and I wouldn't even dream of eating anything after 7:30 p.m. or I would be awoken by acid that night. Even taking all of those acid reducers and following all my crazy food rules, I still had occasions when I would have horrible heartburn and reflux. Recently I started worrying about what all this medicine was doing to my health. My fingernails and hair have become extremely dry and brittle and break easily. I have also lost a lot of hair. I'm 31 years old and my hair has gone from very thick and shiny to very, very thin and fine. After tons of research, I discovered that being on acid reducers for long periods of time can create nutrient deficiencies because you're not digesting your food properly and absorbing the vitamins you need. I decided I had to get off the acid reducers for good. I read about Betaine HCL and decided I would try it. I was nervous about quitting the acid reducers cold turkey, but I knew I had to. Since the HCL supplements acid, I would just offset the effects of it if I took a TUMS or acid reducer. Shockingly, the very first day I took the HCL, my acid reflux was gone. I barely slept that night because I kept thinking the GERD was going to have to strike soon, but it never did. I had very minor heartburn and some stomach pain for the next 3 or 4 days, mainly when I hadn't eaten or taken the HCL in a while. I read about drinking homemade chicken broth to help heal your stomach lining, so I made some homemade soup and ate that for lunch all week. I've been taking it for about 2 weeks now, and I have had zero heartburn or stomach pain/burning this week at all. When I eat, I don't feel like it's just sitting in my stomach. I even ate a chocolate bar as a test. In the past, eating chocolate would have me up all night with reflux. I had no reaction to the chocolate bar at all when I ate it with an HCL pill. I have not had any acid reflux at all since Day 1 of starting the HCL. It has been a miracle supplement for me. I'm hoping that now that I am healing my digestion, I can cure any lingering vitamin deficiencies and restore my good health. I have been taking 1 pill with each meal and usually 2 pills with dinner. If you don't eat a lot of protein with a meal, don't take as many because you don't need as much stomach acid. You have to experiment and find out how many pills is right for you. Some people say they have to take 6 or 7 to get effects, but I have not needed nearly that many. I will update this review in a few months and let you know how it's going. UPDATE 6/2014: I have been heartburn free for months now! It is such a miracle. I still stand by my review that this is a great product. However, I sometimes have to take up to 3 of these at each meal. I ordered Doctor's Best instead of NOW brand on my last order, and I believe they are superior to this NOW brand. I only have to take 1 pill with dinner and have even gone a couple of days without taking anything with the Doctor's Best brand. With NOW, I had to be careful to get the dosage high enough. I highly, highly recommend trying betaine HCL if you have acid reflux or GERD, but I would go with Doctor's Best instead of NOW. UPDATE 10/2015: It's been over a year and a half since I first started taking betaine HCL. I am extremely happy to report that I still have no heartburn. I don't even take the betaine HCL anymore. Even eating my previous trigger foods does not give me heartburn. This product and the Doctor's Best brand of the betaine HCL literally changed my life. I can sleep at night. I haven't been woken up choking on acid in a long, long time. When I wake up, I don't have a disgusting acid taste in my mouth. In the comments, some people wanted to know if my health changed. My fingernails did get a lot better after I stopped the acid reducers. The aren't flakey and brittle anymore. My hair doesn't seem to grow in thick like it used to, but it is definitely shiny and doesn't look lifeless like it used to. I feel 100 percent better than I did when I was trying to struggle through each day on a mix of eating restrictions and acid reducers.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very effective product.
*by L***E on January 21, 2026*

An excellent product. All excessive belching, flatulence and regurgitating of acidic stomach contents subside from the very first day of use.

## Frequently Bought Together

- NOW Foods Supplements, Betaine HCl 648 mg, Vegetarian Formula, Digestive Support*, 120 Veg Capsules
- NOW Foods Supplements, Super Enzymes, Formulated with Bromelain, Ox Bile, Pancreatin and Papain,180 Capsules
- Magnesium Glycinate 400mg, 180 Capsules (Vegan Safe, Third Party Tested, Gluten Free, Non-GMO) High Absorption Magnesium by Double Wood Supplements

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**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/3635126-supplements-betaine-hcl-648-mg-vegetarian-formula-digestive-support-120](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/3635126-supplements-betaine-hcl-648-mg-vegetarian-formula-digestive-support-120)

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*Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu*
*Store origin: VU*
*Last updated: 2026-02-04*