What is Alginate Therapy and Does it Help GERD?

“Just take some Tums.” You’ve probably heard this more times than you care to count. If you’re dealing with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, as it’s commonly called, you know that Tums do not always (or even often) cut it. GERD is something that gets boxed up with occasional heartburn or acid reflux, and is then tucked away by doctors, family, and friends. But if you’re dealing with its chronic symptoms like reflux, nausea, vomiting, or coughing, you need more than a simple antacid, but don’t want the side effects of PPIs or other heavier medications.

This is where alginate therapy comes in. Used in some places for decades or even longer, alginate therapy has been proven to be an effective and often more natural way not just to alleviate symptoms, but keep GERD away entirely. 

Quick Facts: Alginate Therapy & GERD

Alginate therapy is an effective treatment for both acute bouts of acid reflux and the chronic condition GERD. 

• The alginate raft directly blocks stomach acid from coming up the esophagus.
• Alginates can promote the feeling of fullness and satiety. 
• Alginates are safe to use and have few side effects. 
• Alginates are affordable and available over the counter. 
• Some alginate therapy products have both alginate and antacid properties to contain and neutralize stomach acid. 
• Alginate therapy works quickly to provide relief and lasts longer than antacids.

If this sounds like music to your ears, check out these alginate therapy products that are tried and tested:

1. Best Alginate Therapy in the US – Reflux Gourmet
2. Best Alginate Therapy in the UK – Gaviscon Advance Liquid
3. Runner Up – RefluxRaft PM

What is Alginate Therapy?

Let’s start by talking about alginates themselves. Alginates are polysaccharides (a fancy word for a type of complex carbohydrate) that come from brown algae or seaweed. If you read seaweed and are about to check out, please don’t. I’m not encouraging you to start munching on slimy pieces of grass that wash up from the beach. The alginates used in medications and supplements have been through an extensive process to make them clean and kelp-free. 

How Does Alginate Therapy Work?

Depending on the product, alginates may be mixed with various other components, but they all work similarly. Alginates work in three simple steps:

1. Upon being swallowed, the alginates come in contact with your stomach’s acid, creating a gel-like substance.
2. That gel floats to the top of your stomach, creating a raft-like layer on top of the contents of your stomach. 
3. The gel raft keeps acid and stomach contents in your stomach so that your food can be fully digested and blocks contents from coming back up your esophagus.

How Does Alginate Therapy Differ from Traditional Medications?

Despite being available for years, alginates have often flown under the radar in comparison to more systemic or chemical treatments like PPIs or antacids. Research on alginates has skyrocketed in recent years, giving them a proven reason to be in pharmacies and home medicine cabinets. 

GERD patients often are prescribed PPIs, but only ⅓ of people find sufficient symptom relief from them. Many alginate products can be used in conjunction with PPIs for enhanced effectiveness (although I recommend consulting with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medications or supplements). 

Alginates have a mechanical action, meaning they create a physical barrier to stop symptoms, whereas PPIs and antacids have a chemical mechanism of action. This chemical intervention simply neutralizes the stomach’s acid to lessen the discomfort, but doesn’t stop GERD or acid reflux, whereas alginate therapy combats GERD at its source. Combining the two may provide greater relief for those who have difficulty controlling symptoms by chemical means alone. 

Alginates are also considered safe for regular or continued use without causing side effects, unlike other GERD medications. Alginates can also be used for populations that often have medication restrictions, including children, teens, and pregnant women. 

Does Alginate Therapy Help GERD?

There are several key differences in treating GERD versus the occasional bout of acid reflux or indigestion. GERD is chronic and can be affected by factors in and out of someone’s control. When treating GERD, you may consider the long-term side effects of medicating or not medicating. Other considerations include treatment effectiveness, availability, and cost of medications. Let’s break down how alginate therapy specifically helps treat GERD: 

• The alginate raft directly blocks stomach acid from coming up the esophagus. This prevents symptoms like heartburn, regurgitation, and sore throat from occurring.
• Alginates can promote the feeling of fullness and satiety. This reduces the likelihood of overeating, which can trigger GERD in some people, and assists in maintaining a healthy weight.
• Alginates are safe to use and have few side effects. Alginates do not build up in your body or cause many of the adverse side effects that worsen GERD or other health conditions.
• Alginates are affordable and available over the counter. Paying for PPIs or other medications for GERD can become expensive over time. Alginates are a cost-effective way to treat symptoms alone or in conjunction with other medications or supplements.
• Some alginate therapy products have both alginate and antacid properties to contain and neutralize stomach acid. This can help treat multiple GERD symptoms at once.
• Alginate therapy works quickly to provide relief and lasts longer than antacids. It can be used on the go, making meals and social gatherings more enjoyable with longer-lasting relief.

Whether used alone or with other approved medications, alginate therapy can provide powerful relief from the chronic discomfort and pain caused by GERD. 

Proven Alginate Therapy Options

If you want proven relief from GERD, check out my favorite alginate therapy options – ones that are tried, tested, and trusted.

1. Best Alginate Therapy in the US – Reflux Gourmet

If you’re based in the US, Reflux Gourmet is my go-to. It’s available from major retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, making it easily accessible from most places in the country. Reflux Gourmet is a relative newcomer to the scene of alginate therapy, but its creators are veteran physicians who have 40 years of experience treating conditions like GERD and reflux. 

Reflux Gourmet stood out from the competition for several reasons. The first was its effectiveness. We all know that this is what really matters, and Reflux Gourmet proved its worth. It works quickly and stops GERD symptoms within minutes. Relief typically lasts several hours, with many users noting that it is especially helpful for nighttime symptoms when taken 30 minutes before bed. 

Reflux Gourmet is 100% natural, which makes it a great choice for those looking to supplement without the added chemicals and substances found in many reflux medications. It is also vegan, gluten-free, and free of the major allergens.

The product itself is a gel that comes in a tube, with a serving size of 1 teaspoon. It comes in two actually tasty flavors – Mint Chocolate and Vanilla Caramel. These flavors have been noted by many users as much better than other alginate therapy products on the market. Many people with GERD are triggered by chocolate, which made some users wary, but ultimately, most found that the chocolate flavoring used in Reflux Gourmet didn’t trigger any symptoms. 

If I could see one change made to Reflux Gourmet, it would be nice to see it in other flavors, maybe a fruit one (like their alginate gums) or something besides a sweet-savory dessert (though I’m certainly not complaining about a dessert-esque supplement).

Price: $28 for 47 servings.

2. Best Alginate Therapy in the UK – Gaviscon Advance Liquid 

Often considered the gold standard in alginate therapy, Gaviscon has an impressive and long-standing track record of offering relief to those with GERD. Gaviscon is an older brand often used in research because of its longevity in the medical world. 

Gaviscon offers many different products, with its liquid Advance being its hallmark alginate therapy option. It comes in two flavors: aniseed and peppermint, quite different from other sweet or fruit flavors on the market. Many have commented that the flavor is tolerable, and some enjoy the different options.

It advertises up to 4 hours of relief and assures users that the product stays in the stomach and intestines, making it safe for long-term use and for use by pregnant women.

Gaviscon Advance Liquid is sugar- and gluten-free, but does not make any claims about whether or not it is natural, unlike the other options I’m including here. Some have said that it tastes more medicine-like than other alginate therapies. It does have a higher concentration of alginates, making it a more potent fix than competitors.

While it is an all-around good product, there is a major drawback if you live in the United States. Gaviscon with alginate in it is not available in the US. Few people have had success importing it in, and most say that it’s too much of a hassle to get it, even if they can find someone who will ship it. 

Price: £12.00 ($14 USD at the time of writing) for 50 servings.

3. Runner Up – RefluxRaft PM

RefluxRaft PM is one of two products offered by the small business RefluxRaft, created by two ENT doctors. The PM iteration of their product offers a unique take on nighttime GERD relief by adding melatonin. This addition really polarizes the product, with some customers loving the added sleep aid, while others were driven away from it. It is an all-natural product, much like Reflux Gourmet, making it a safer option for children and pregnant women.

RefluxRaft also offers a daytime version of the supplement without melatonin, though it was unavailable at the time of writing. 

The product sits between a gel and a liquid form, and is offered in a midnight berry flavor. Two of its ingredients – acai and blueberry- are touted for decreasing inflammation and improving digestion. Stacked with its alginate therapy, it has great potential to be effective for nighttime GERD relief.

However, many customers say it just misses the mark. Reviews have stated that RefluxRaft PM works well to control symptoms, but that it is difficult to swallow. Some users have pointed to a gritty texture and poor taste as reasons it may not be palatable for some. 

Few supplements are perfect, and even with some of its less desirable qualities, RefluxRaft PM may be a great fit if you prefer a fruit flavor and enjoy the added melatonin to help you relax. 

Price: 34.99 for 47 servings.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re new to the GERD community or you’ve been here for years, it is worth your while to try alginate therapy as a way not just to lessen your symptoms, but to kick them to the curb entirely. The raft it creates might as well be a life raft for many who struggle with GERD. 
One of the best things about alginate therapy is that it comes in natural options with fewer side effects than PPIs and antacids. If you’re based in the US, you can find the all-natural Reflux Gourmet. If you’re in the UK, look for the time-honored Gaviscon Advance Liquid.  Either way, I hope they help you find natural relief and see real results.