Welcome back to our alginate taste test series. For test number six we tried Reflux Gourmet Mint Chocolate Rescue. If you've ever wanted your reflux relief to taste like dessert, this one is worth a look.
The short version: it's very sweet, it tastes like a mint chocolate candy, and it formed a raft in our vinegar demo just like an alginate should. It scored an 8 out of 10 for flavor and an 8 out of 10 for effectiveness.
What Is an Alginate?
If you're new to the series, here's a quick refresher. Alginates are naturally derived compounds that come from seaweed. When you swallow one, it reacts with your stomach acid and forms a gel-like "raft" that floats on top of your stomach contents.
The raft acts as a physical barrier. It helps keep stomach acid from traveling back up your esophagus and causing the burning and discomfort that come with acid reflux. Every alginate works on this same basic idea. What changes from product to product is how fast the raft forms, how thick the liquid is, and of course how it tastes.
The Vinegar Raft Demo
To show what happens inside your stomach, we pour each alginate into a glass of white vinegar, which stands in for stomach acid.
Mint Chocolate Rescue started bubbling almost right away as the reaction began. Within a few seconds it lifted off the bottom and rose to the top of the vinegar. After a gentle swirl, the rest of it floated up and joined the raft.
The raft looked a little loose and messy, and you might wonder how something like that could stop anything. Keep in mind that a glass of vinegar is not a real stomach. The demo is only there to show that the product floats and forms a barrier, and this one did exactly that.
Texture and Taste
Right out of the bottle, Mint Chocolate Rescue looks like chocolate sauce. It's a little thick, but not as thick as some of the other alginates we've tested, so it goes down easily.
The flavor is very sweet. It tastes almost exactly like Andes mints, the little chocolate mints in green foil wrappers that restaurants used to hand out with the check. It honestly tastes like dessert.
For some people it may be too sweet. But nothing about it is unpleasant, and it's a world away from the medicinal flavors of some of the other products in this series. If a bad taste has put you off alginates before, this one could change your mind.
It also didn't take long to feel it working after I took it.
Our Scores
|
Category |
Score |
|---|---|
|
Flavor |
8 / 10 |
|
Effectiveness |
8 / 10 |
Where to Buy
As far as we know, Reflux Gourmet isn't sold in grocery stores or drugstores, so you'll need to order it online. Plan ahead and keep a bottle at home before you need it.
The Verdict
Reflux Gourmet Mint Chocolate Rescue tastes good and does what an alginate is supposed to do. If you like mint chocolate and don't mind something on the sweet side, it's one of the most enjoyable alginates we've tried so far.
Pair Your Alginate With Better Sleep Position
Alginates help in the moment, but how you sleep matters too. Lying flat makes it easier for stomach acid to travel up your esophagus. Sleeping with your head and upper body raised lets gravity help keep it down.
Travelwedge PRO is the first and only self-inflating bed wedge, built so you can sleep with your head raised wherever you are: at home, in a hotel, or at a friend's place. It packs down small for travel and expands back into a full-size wedge when you open it.
Shop Travelwedge PRO, or search "Travelwedge PRO" on Google or Amazon.
Stay tuned for alginate taste test number seven.
This post reflects our personal experience and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor about ongoing acid reflux symptoms or before starting any new product.