<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Must correct the misinformation: My doctor recommended Betaine Hcl, not Beta Hcl as I had reported, and cautioned that it could cause burning of the esophagus and digestive tract (since it is Hydrochloric acid, as several respondents pointed out), so advised me to take just one capsule per day with a meal to begin with until I know whether I can tolerate it. Thanks for your patience, fellow patients! Nancy in So. Oregon