Acid Reflux
Natural Remedies

Top 10 Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux

Detoxification Diet

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Lynn (Cape Town, South Africa) on 11/06/2009
5 out of 5 stars

Acid Reflux - I have put on a considerable amount of weight since I turned 40 (I am not 45). I have found it hard to lose the weight and have excrutiating acid reflux, flatulence, strong urine and constant bouts of low blood pressure. I decided that I was not well and needed to do something and researched the internet and found the Hallejah diet. However, I just wanted to detox as a starting point and wasn't completely happy with the diet as I understood from reputable sources that a vegetarian diet only is not healthy. However, the detoxing itself .. eating only veggies and fruit for at least 5 days resulted in all of my problems disappearing.. and this was because my PH balance was too acidic. So my advice is DETOX to achieve at least a 7.0 PH balance.


DGL Licorice

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Posted by Peter (California) on 02/08/2020
5 out of 5 stars

Chewable DGL Locorice extract works great for heart burn and it works immediately. I keep it on hand. The reason I use DGL is because it removes the substances in licorice that raises blood pressure.


Dietary Changes

41 User Reviews
5 star (40) 
  98%
4 star (1) 
  2%


Posted by Diana (Texas) on 06/16/2021
5 out of 5 stars

I also found that lowering my carbs eliminated the acid flux problem. Was having significant reflux 2-3 times per week. To lose weight I lowered my carbs to 40-50 per day. About 7-11 days after starting the diet, I realized I hadn't had any bouts of reflux since a day or two after lowering my carbs. This was a complete surprise as I had gone into the diet without any thought that it might have this happy result. It also eliminated the armpit rash I'd been having. It has been about 8 months or more since starting the low carb diet and both issues have remained resolved as long as I watch my carbs. The only times the reflux has recurred was after I had been backsliding for a few days. I can get away with higher carb intake for maybe a day or three but then the reflux comes back. It's a great motivator! I'm 5'3 and weigh 165 now after losing about 15 lbs on the diet, if that is pertinent. Hope this helps someone.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Denise (Us) on 11/17/2018 51 posts
5 out of 5 stars

I have my acid reflux under control, mostly to Dietary Changes so I wanted to reply here. One huge change for me, was to eat no later than 6pm, but mainly, just don't go to bed within 4 hours or so of eating. I can eat toast as a snack, or anything that is very, easy to digest. I've had a few nights where I had eaten something I shouldn't have, pretty late, like only 2 or less hour before bed. If I do get it, I elevate my upper body, take a bit of baking soda in water usually. I did have a bottle of Gaviscon beside my bed, but no longer needed. I do eat mostly fish, poultry, and vegetables, but I'm more about moderation than anything. I do incorporate some things into my diet such as Apple cider vinegar (Mother's type) Coconut Oil, Blackstrap Molasses in my grated Ginger Tea, and nutritional yeast I just started recently. I also supplement with C, B50, extra B12, D3, Zinc and Magnesium. I love this site as I wouldn't have known all the things to try.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Olddude (Tn) on 10/16/2018 21 posts
5 out of 5 stars

I used ACV and baking soda for years, then I got into a Plant Based eating program and all my acid reflux went away,,, watch the documentary Forks over Knives on netflix when u can.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Samarra (Pacific Nw, Washington) on 01/07/2014
5 out of 5 stars

Regarding reflux. My hubby had pains once that we thought might be a heart attack so we went to our local doctor. She asked if he drank a lot of coffee, he said he did (at that time). The doc told him to stop drinking coffee and come back in a week if the pains persisted. They didn't. He hasn't drank coffee since. If you are a coffee drinker try getting off of it and see what happens. Well wishes for you ;o}


Dietary Changes
Posted by Jenny (Irvine, Ca) on 07/27/2013
5 out of 5 stars

I was vegetarian when I first started suffering from acid reflux. Apple cider vinegar, ginger chews and almonds would offer temporary relief from heartburns. The medication prescribed by doctors, a proton pump inhibitor, did not seem to make a difference. I started avoiding the foods that would trigger heartburns, which did help. But identifying these foods was far from obvious. Mine did not fit the usual list. Spicy, and fatty foods did not bother me. Some acidic foods did and others not.

But even when I did not have heartburns, I could not lay down to sleep because I would feel the burn come up to my throat, nose, ears and gums. My doctor diagnosed me with a loose lower esophagal sphincter (LES). This meant that the sphincter at the entrance to the stomach could no longer completely close up, which explains the backflow of stomach acid when laying down. Like many, I refused to take medication which lowered the level of acid in the stomach instead of addressing the real problem: the loose LES.

In the end, what really worked for me was probiotics and a dietary change. I tried the candida diet and later the Paleo diet, which have many similarities. The purpose of the candida diet is to eliminate the bad bacteria from one's body, especially from the stomach, by cutting out the foods that feed them and by promoting the growth the good bacteria. The philosphical premise of the Paleo diet is that, to be healthy, a person should eat a diet resembling what man ate before the advent of agriculture. This means primarily meat/fish/poultry and vegetables, with a few fruits and nuts. Of the fruits, one should only eat berries and avoid fruits that have been bred throughout time to be high in sugar. In addition to sugar, the main other thing to avoid is grains, since these are a product of agriculture, and were therefore not meant to be eaten (according to proponents of the diet). But the candida diet, sugar and carbs (most of which come from grains) are exactly the foods that feed the bad bacteria in the gut. The other similarity between the 2 diets I noticed is that both tended to eliminate chronic conditions of various sorts. Many followers of the Paleo diet have declared having fewer health issues and just feeling better overall.

After a month of taking probiotics and avoiding sugar and grains/carbs, I noticed I could lay down to sleep again. My tolerance for what used to be my trigger foods seemed to have increased as well. I am hoping to slowly phase out the probiotics, and just continue to eat well.

Side thought on the vegetarian versus meat-based diet: I was vegetarian primarily because I did not enjoy eating meat. However, I had IBS for as long as I could remember and the vegetarian diet did not do anything to alleviate the problem. I found it hard to incorporate what I thought was a healthy amount of veggies and ate large amounts of pasta and rice instead. But on a meat-based diet, I found that veggies, especially leafy greens, were much easier to include in meals. And I was using more spices too. I no longer suffer from IBS. And while I still do not always enjoy the taste of meat, I believe it to be the best source of protein. TVP-based fake meat products seem too processed. Soybeans has its own controversies (of which you can find discussions on the web). And the fact that beans make people fart is a sure sign that they are not easy to digest. Of course there are a lot of meat products that one should avoid. I always try to get the highest quality stuff I can find.

Finally, I would like to offer a list of resources that helped me find my way to better health:

* your doctor: only he can give you a proper diagnosis and let you know the true culprit in the matter.

* the web: this website and others like it were not only a source of information, for remedies to try, but also support

* books: there are numerous books that offer alternatives to medication. The one by Ms. Whittekin was particularly helpful and extensive in its coverage of solutions. I learned that marshmallow root and slippery elm will help heal the throat by coating it, and this was the book that initially introduced me to the candida diet. "Good calories, bad calories" is an important book that will reshape the way you think about food, especially regarding the latest opinions on what food is considered healthy and what is not.

* yourself: maintain a food and symptom diary, research your options and experiment. Good luck!

Replied by Aleksandar
(Serbia)
01/10/2015

To be honest, I don't think that the loose LES is your problem. By the sound of it, I think it's too low acidity of gastric juices. I think that when your gut flora is OK, you won't be having problems with digestion.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Robert (Martinez, California) on 06/21/2011
5 out of 5 stars

Barring there are no underlying conditions & there is 'typical' acid reflux then diet is essential. Poor food combining added to diminished enzymes & hydrochloric acid production causes food to rot. Enzymes & digestive acid production decline with age due to the constant eating of lifeless cooked foods. I am not recommending a raw food diet as all foods cannot be eaten raw. 1/4 to 1 tsp of air dried pink salt in a glass of water in the a.m. stimulates hydrochloric acid production. Enzymes may be taken before each major meal, not after, & followed by betaine hydrochloride after the meal. Dr. David Brownstein, M. D. wrote a small book on salt which is helpful for many ailments. Dr. Bob Marshall, PHd, CNC has a site that addresses these issues.

Replied by Marie
(Ny)
08/08/2017

Some older people who have high blood pressure can't take salt. I test it alot and if I eat more than 600mg sodium a day my blood pressure sky rockets. The other day it was 121/77 and that nite I ate two bowls of chinese egg drop soup and today it was 153/95. The other days it's in the 120's/80 except when I eat salt the nite before. So be careful with the salt. One hot dog can contain about 500 mg of sodium. I boil them to get the salt out into the water and I boil smoked sausage the same way and I believe that 90 percent of the salt comes out. I do it with ham too. You can tell cuz there will be no taste., but you can sprinkle a TINY amount of Celtic salt to make up for it and yet it will be way less than before.

Replied by Donquish
(Columbia, Tn)
08/10/2017

I love salt. However I do take 400mg Potassium Citrate twice a day to attenuate the effect of higher sodium intake. I keep packaged and fast food to a minimum. This keeps the BP fluctuations to a minimum for me. Always use Himalayan Pink salt for the spectrum of minor minerals in it.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Connie (Slc, Ut) on 01/25/2011
4 out of 5 stars

Hi Sheila; Yes, it is an "acid thing" to me too because I'm still trying to give it a figure. Whatever this thing is, It's been "Born Slippy" to my gripe. (possibility of a joke here). I'm still rummaging through my diet and supplements to find which acids trouble me at this time.

In Truth, these acids have nothing that's wrong about them, but I am not metabolizing them correctly for now. I cannot take aspirin or even White Willow Bark For now. (high in salicylic acid) Foods high in salicylates don't seem to be a problem.

Foods high in citric acid are troublesome now. I may have moderate amounts of naturally fermented foods. (lactic acid) Acetic acids are also troublesome now. Even Rose Hips tea caused a disturbance. (ascorbic acid and citric acid) I have trouble metabolizing sulfur. It is acidic, but moreover, the body conducts a very complex process with it in order to use it. (when I try to understand what all the liver does in this, I have to "roll out the fainting couch"). If sulfur isn't properly methylated, oxidized, etc., its unfinished business will be expressed to and from an unhappy colon.

What brought me to realize that my case was some "gross acidosis", was (I must admit this), 5 years of Hcl supplementation. I began it after a lifetime of digestive ills that peaked with a 3 month period of upper stomach pain, projectile vomiting, and dry heaves. (liver problems too) Scope showed no ulcer, no H. Pylori, but there was inflammation. After research, I began Hcl with Betaine (sounds like beet uh een). My results were great, and I could eat well. After a couple of years, I began to have negative symptoms that seemed unrelated to the Hcl. (no stomach pain). After 5 yrs., there was pain nearly everywhere but the stomach. I increased Hcl. Pain increased. Kidney pain increased exponentially. Ted's words, "acid kidney", came to mind.

I went for a scan. The results were; No stones, no obstructions in kidney, but a small liver lesion and a small hiatal hernia. I stopped Hcl. The pain began to subside. I now have somewhat low stomach acid, but I choose B-complex with an extra pinch of niacin to treat it. These are the acids that I may have.

The rewards for the practice of finding my troublesome acids are: no more kidney pain, minimized liver and stomach pain, much reduced bleeding, (purpura, gums), very few canker sores, (autoimmune), and very few shingles outbreaks, (herpes). I am now able to slowly reduce my meds. I have learned this practice from reading the brilliant posts here, and I am again grateful. Connie


Replied by Rob
(Manhattan, Ny)
11/13/2010

Great info Sarah, thanks.. I am finding there is a lot of truth to the carbs, grains, blood sugar, and inflammation link. I believe it is one strong reason Raw Food diets claim their health benefits. Even my daily morning bowl of steel cuts oats is no longer working... Not that it is unhealthy, but that as I am hitting 50, I am finding my body isn't processing sugars as well. As told by a TCM that I am borderline diabetic. So yes, as a result, going further and cutting out grains, seems to help keep my blood sugar down and in turn I am feeling clearer, less brain fog, & inflammation. I found a "grainless" cereal made by Lydia's raw organics.. (you can buy online) that helps with the morning question of what to eat. Cheers!

Dietary Changes
Posted by Paul (Lansing, Mi) on 12/10/2009
5 out of 5 stars

About 10 years ago, I went to my doctor with complaints of heartburn. Refered to specialist. Scoped and diagnosed acid reflux. Presciption. I asked the doctor if I would be taking this the rest of my life, he said yes. I determined that I would not. After 3 months and 3 different precriptions that made me feel worse I quit taking them. Felt better right away, but still had heartburn sometimes. I now know in my case it is chocolate. Just a small amount can make me feel like i'm having a heart attack hours later. Experiment, don't let them put you on a lifetime of prescriptions that will make you sicker.

Replied by Lisa
(Bend, Oregon)
11/20/2010

At 40 I developed acid reflux and tried traditional medicines off and on, but found 10 years relief from not drinking beer. Oddly, wine and coffee didn't bother me. After reading from others, I see it's the grain connection. Unfortunity, at 52 my acid reflux has resurfaced and is miserable. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to reduce eating all grains and see what happens.

Replied by Kymom
(Bowling Green, Kentucky, Usa)
11/21/2010
5 out of 5 stars

Lisa,
I am 50 years old and have had difficulty with acid reflux for over a year. I, too, have noticed that beer is a big aggravator for me. There have been numerous things that help temporarily, but I have finally figured out that the acid/alkaline foods and beverages I drink seem to determine my level of reflux.

I am using 1/2 tsp baking soda with lime in the morning and at bedtime. I use more during the day if I am having heartburn or know I am going to eat acidic food. I also try to eat more alkaline foods than acidic. You can google and find a list of foods and where they fall on the list. Beer is very acidic, as is sugar, which may be why so many people find relief by eating low carb. Baking soda is very alkaline. I am also eating a grapefruit for breakfast and an apple for snack on a daily basis. Hope this helps. It is a miserable feeling to have reflux, but even worse is not knowing how to help yourself. Using the acid/alkaline food chart has helped me manage myself very well.

Replied by Eva
(Ballymena, Northern Ireland)
08/18/2012
5 out of 5 stars

My acid reflux started about 1 year ago. I wasn't sure at the beginning why I was so sick, had a nausea, was dizzy sometimes, tired.. Then I found out it is acid reflux. I was trying to heal it with Aloe, Apple cider vinegar and baking soda.. It did help for awhile but definately didn't heal it. Then I said to myself STOP. If I wont heal it, I can develope a cancer of aesophagus. I stopped to drink coffee, stopped to eat chocolate, began a vegan, started to make vegetable and fruit juices everyday and I feel 100% better! When I eat chocolate, I start to feel sick again. So I am better off from all these things.

I definately recomment lifestyle changes, because your body is trying to say: 'Stop to put all this rubbish to me! I need much more nutrition to keep you healthy and happy! ' I am quite glad now, that I started to have a GERD, because that made me think about my lifestyle and now I started to live healthy again with right choices of food as I used to do years ago. I make vegetable and fruit juices for my wee son as well, buy lots of vegetables and fruits everyday, try to make some new healthy vegan food nearly everyday. And I am very happy when my son eat it and like it, because I know, that I am giving him the best nutrition. So people. Don't be afraid to change your diet. It is the best think you can do for yourself in long term. I didnt want to take medicines for this, because I knew, it will only make my problem worst and then I will really get sick. I don't even need any medication anymore. Food is my medication. And avoiding coffee, chocolate and meat was the most important thing for me.


Dietary Changes
Posted by New To All This (La, Ca ) on 09/08/2009

For laryngopharyngeal acid reflux, I must stick to small meals, stop eating 3 1/2 hours before lying down and avoid all fats. How then can I maintain my weight? Is the fat in nuts or avocadoes OK? I have been eating sunflower seeds and cashews because I have them around the house and they are fattening. What are good fattening foods, and how far apart should meals be taken?

Replied by Paul
(Lansing, Mi)
12/10/2009

Small meals every 2 to 3 hours works well for acid reflux and sugar problems. I mean small, 1 small to medium sandwich/ no fries or soda. Or a banana or apple. Common foods that can cause acid reflux : coffee, chocolate, peanuts, soda pop, spicy foods and for me banana right before bedtime. Try to eat mostly fruits and veggies, preferred raw but cooked is better than eating alot of red meat. Drink plenty of filtered or sping water.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Char (Lapeer, Mi) on 04/23/2009

I want to share my recent experiance after useing prilosec OTC prescribed for acid reflux by my Dr. I recently had an endo scope and the Dr removed several polips from my stomach that he said was caused by long term use of prilosec OTC. I just went back for a follow up visit and he wants me to have another endo scope in six months because he is concerned about two of the polips he removed. He informed me that in order to get an accurate test for h pylori which can cause acid reflux a person must be off of any type of meds such as prilosec OTC for 6 weeks prior to the test. He said all of the meds for reflux treatment cause polips. With this being said I received some information in the mail from a farmer that said people must have the high acid content in the stomach and when we do not produce enough stomach acid the food in our stomach does not digest completely but it ferments and then backs up as reflux. This can cause malnutrition also. The farmer suggested eating fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut, I bought Bubbies old world receipe from the health food store because it has no sugar vinegar or preservatives in it. I also bought a cow share so I can start drinking organic Raw Milk which contains enzymes and has cancer fighting abilities in it. I will get my first gallon of raw milk tomorrow. Because of processed foods and chemicals in our food it has harmed our stomachs and over all health. I am working on going on an all raw diet and juicing. A good juice for acid reflux is orgainc carrots, apples, potatoes. Also the keefer grain is something that is better than even yogurt. I will be making this with my raw milk. The butter fat in raw milk is very healthy, the body knows how to use it and benefit from it and one can actually loose weight from it, I know this goes contrary to what we are taught! I have been off of prilosec OTC for a few days and am doing well! I use a little malt vinager which helps when needed. Malt vinegar seems to work better for me than Heinz apple cider vinegar perhaps cider vinegar is best if it still has the mother in it. Eating light meals also helps. I hope my story helps someone else. God bless.

Replied by Marie
(Ny)
08/08/2017

I didn't know about the polyps, but now that you mention it I remember reading years ago in the Merc Manual that PPI cause "tumors in the stomach". You just made me remember that. Wow.


Replied by Joyce
(Joelton, Tn)
01/22/2009
509 posts

Hello Doris, Don't know if it will work for you, but I got rid of most all my GI tract problems (heartburn, acid regurg, nausea, bloating, gas, peptic ulcers and constipation) by eliminating bleached flour and any acid food from metal cans many years ago. I can drink my coffee black, what little booze I drink straight, and eat just about anything I want except for the things above that I eliminated. I also used to have canker sores (apthous ulcers) in my mouth quite frequently but seldom have any of them now.

It will require some thought on your part to eliminate all bleached flour from your foods eaten. One word of caution though, unless a loaf of bread states l00% whole wheat or 100% whole grain, it isn't. Most restaurants serve what they think is whole wheat but when you ask to see the ingredients on the loaf, you will usually find bleached flour listed.

You will find whole wheat crackers and pastas but you will also find they cost more. But when you hesitate over the higher cost, think of how much better you'll feel and all the money you will save on doctor bills and antacids and all the other medicines you no longer will need.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Annette (Sacramento, Ca) on 12/02/2008
5 out of 5 stars

I am writing to tell you of a discovery I made when I stopped eating carbs for weight loss. As long as I kept off carbs, I had no, zero, nada acid reflux! So, I have come to the conclusion that for myself, carbs are the cause of my acid reflux. It is hard to avoid carbs without planning and it takes a week to clear the sugars from your muscles and liver...but soon you will not have cravings for carbs and I hope, no more acid reflux. Good luck!

Replied by Martha
(Sacramento, CA)
04/30/2009
5 out of 5 stars

I went on the Atkins diet twice in my life and both times, my GERD disappeared. I have mentioned that to all the Drs I have ever seen and they all just shook their heads and blew it off as an anomaly. I am happy to hear of someone else having that same experience. I won't go back on Atkins, but now I am motivated to once again cut most of the bad carbs out and see if it helps.

Replied by Stacey
(Jackson, Wyoming)
01/28/2010

I'm not an expert on this matter, but it may be that carbs aren't the issue. It could be what is in most carb foods, and that is gluten. An amazing amount of people have some sort of intolerance to the gluten protein. The good news is there are several foods that are gluten free or low in gluten. I had severe GI problems (including awful reflux) and found out that I'm intolerant to gluten. Once I removed it from my diet I felt great! Good luck.

Replied by Nevada
(Smithfield, Pa)
12/30/2011

I have done low carb and I have also done plant-based nearly vegan diet for over 2 years. I found that either of these diets works to eleiminate both acid reflux [GERD].

I think the main thing is to avoid all processed foods. No processed sugar or flour. [I don't like to call them "refined" cause there is nothing fine about them.]

I took prevacid for a year and would wake up in the middle of the night choking on the taste of stomach acid in my mouth. Then, because I also had diverticulosis, I started eating oatmeal 5 days a week for the fiber. For the longest time I became convinced that animal foods were one of the bad things that contrubuted to disease but now I am not so sure.

Eventually I went vegetarian and from that I went nutritarian based on a book by Joel Fuhrman, MD called Eat To Live. I stayed on that diet for over 2 years up until 2 months ago when I went low-carb high-fat. Low-carb high-fat is really what all the low-carb high-protein diets are about. They don't want to emphasize the high fat part cause it would scare folks off. Reading Gary Taubes Good Calorie, Bad Calories is what got me interested and turned me around into accepting that animal foods may not be all that bad as long as you avoid processed animal foods and those with hormones and antibiotics.

Anyway it has now been about 5 years since I have had any symptoms of GERD or diverticulosis. Plus after going on the vegetarian diet followed by the nutritarian diet I lost 40 pounds and since going low carb and eating much more meat & fat but no potatoes, bread and the like I have not gained back a single pound but in fact have lost a few and my lipids have gotten even better as well as my blood sugar which went from 99 to 89. I also supplement with DHA, vitamin D and magnesium taurate.

I will be 65 years old in another month. Wish I ate better when I was younger.

Replied by Marie
(Ny)
08/08/2017

You are so right about the carbs, becuz I remember 12 yrs ago when I went on the Atkins diet for 4 months my heartburn went completly away!! I think I will try the paleo diet.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 07/19/2008 509 posts

To Rosetta from Rogers, Ark.

07/18/2008: Rosetta from Rogers, Arkansas writes: "Thankyou. My husband has tried prescription drugs for his acid reflux.Nothing seems to help. I am going to go and buy apple cider vinegar.Thankyou so much.I will let you know how it works.Your site is like a breath of fresh air.

Thankyou Again.
Rosetta"

Hi Rosetta, If you diligently work at eliminating all bleached flour from your husband's diet, you might find that you also eliminate his acid reflux problem that nothing helps. It works for me and I can tell you that unless breads and cereals state l00% whole grain, they aren't, and probably contain some bleached flour. You will also find that many products contain both bleached and unbleached flour. The above has been working for me for over 30 years now. I don't know what it is in the bleaching process that creates the problem, but since I can eat whole grains or unbleached products without getting the problem, I know that is where the problem is.

Replied by Marie
(Ny)
08/08/2017

You are right too. I think it is the "bromides" in the flour that is upsetting the stomach. They used to use iodine, but not anymore. And the bromide blocks any iodine from getting to the body and the thyroid and therefore more people are getting thyroid nodules and goiter.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Arthur (Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin) on 07/15/2008
5 out of 5 stars

I am age 83. I suffered from canker sores continuously my whole life until 2 years ago when by accident I discovered that I had celiac disease, that is gluten intolerance. Since going on a gluten-free diet I have not had even one canker sore. NADA! Also the acid reflux that I had all my adult life has also almost completely gone away.

Replied by Ross
(Port Washington, NY)
10/23/2008
5 out of 5 stars

I have taken Prilosec or Nexium for 45 years straight, and have recently detoxed as part of a program to help my thyroid and adrenal fatigue. Long story short, I simultaneously stopped taking my Prilosec, and I was fine. My detox consisted of raw veggies, fruit, fish and chicken. When I went off detox, reflux returned with a vengeance. My Naturopath suggested that I remove gluten from my diet, and I have been completely acid free for 2 weeks without any medicines. This is unheard of for me. I strongly believe that for some people reflux is a sign of gluten intolerance or worse. By removing Gluten, everything improves...skin, brain, energy, etc.



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