What Is Calcium Carbonate?
Occasional heartburn is annoying but common — in fact, there are some estimates that around 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month. If you’re one of those 60 million, you’ve probably reached for an antacid to relieve that uncomfortable burning sensation, as antacids neutralize excess stomach acids and can usually relieve occasional heartburn.
If your antacid of choice is TUMS, then you’re definitely in good hands, as TUMS has been fighting back against heartburn for nearly 90 years and is America’s #1 antacid! One of the main reasons TUMS works so well is its active ingredient, calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is a naturally mined product and the primary active ingredient in all TUMS products. It goes to work in seconds to neutralize stomach acid and relieving heartburn. But what is calcium carbonate? We’re so glad you asked!
Calcium Carbonate: What Is It?
A material found all over the world, calcium carbonate has a few natural forms, including chalk (yup, the stuff you wrote with at school!), limestone, and marble. When calcium carbonate comes into contact with any kind of acid, carbon dioxide is created.
When it comes to common household products, calcium carbonate is found in a few of them, including baking powder, certain toothpastes, dry dessert mixers, dough, and wine.
In addition to helping treat occasional heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, and sour stomach, there are also calcium carbonate products that can help with osteoporosis and as a regular calcium supplement — although you should talk to your doctor first before you try treating any other conditions with calcium carbonate.
Because calcium carbonate may interact with certain antibiotics, iron supplements, thyroid medications, and a few other prescriptions, it’s important to talk to your doctor first if you’ve never taken it.
How Does Calcium Carbonate Help with Heartburn?
Acid reflux, which is when acidic stomach contents come back up into your esophagus, is typically the cause of heartburn. That burning sensation you feel is the rogue stomach acids actually touching the lining of your esophagus.
When chewed, calcium carbonate can quickly neutralize that rogue esophageal acid.
While other classes of heartburn medications are absorbed into the bloodstream and can take an hour or more to start to work, TUMS and its primary ingredient, calcium carbonate, can get to work in seconds, which means you can feel confident that occasional heartburn and acid indigestion isn’t going to ruin your day (or night)! And the best part? TUMS come in a variety of flavors and chews, which makes taking them that much easier.
So the next time you feel that familiar acrid taste or burn in the back of your throat after a big meal, reach for natural calcium carbonate in TUMS — in the form of tasty, easy-to-take products!