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Step 2Notes on the ingredients
Filler
I used fructose as a filler/sweetener because it dissolves faster in water than granulated sugar. You can replace it with powdered sugar (aka confectioners sugar, icing sugar or caster sugar), but powdered sugar clumps a little when you combine your mixture with water. The end result is fine, it's just not quite as satisfying to watch. The real Alka Seltzer uses aspartame, which is sold in supermarkets as Nutrasweet. If you want to avoid sugar you can use that instead. You could also cut down on the sugar by replacing some of it with cornstarch. Basically to have a dose of 2 teaspoons, you'll want to put in 1/2 cup and 3 tablespoons of filler.
If you want to you can cut out the filler entirely. One dose of your mix will be 1 teaspoon instead of 2. It won't taste as good, but it will still work...
Citric acid
This can be found in the kosher section of supermarkets under the name "sour salt." In Brooklyn, New York, Sahadi's on Atlantic Avenue carries it but they call it "lemon salt." Apparently it can also be found at brewers supplies stores. I've also seen it in regular supermarkets (if you call Garden of Eden regular) with their other spices and even at a cake supply store (but it cost more than $4 per pound). If all else fails, buy a large stash online and make borsh, bath bombs and dishwashing detergent as well as alka selzer. You'll find it at other places too, but this site carries it.
UPDATE:
Several people have commented that plain baking soda can work too -- although it is a common home remedy, adding citric acid has two advantages:
1. when mixed with water and an acid, baking soda has a chemical reaction which produces carbon dioxide. This is the fizz which is produced when this powder is mixed with water. When this reaction happens in your stomach (rather than in the glass, where the gas dissipates into the air) it can cause swelling and tenderness, and it might force more of the acidic stomach juices up the esophagus -- which worsens the heartburn rather than help it.
2. the citric acid acts as a chemical buffer. This means it will not make the Ph of your insides fluctuate wildly as the base (baking soda) hits the acid (stomach juice).
A commenter who tried both methods said the plain baking soda seems to work faster but that soda combined with citric acid prolonged the effect.
Then of course it's simply much more fun (and tasty) to mix a fizzy, sweet drink rather than downing a glass of lukewarm salty water...
I used fructose as a filler/sweetener because it dissolves faster in water than granulated sugar. You can replace it with powdered sugar (aka confectioners sugar, icing sugar or caster sugar), but powdered sugar clumps a little when you combine your mixture with water. The end result is fine, it's just not quite as satisfying to watch. The real Alka Seltzer uses aspartame, which is sold in supermarkets as Nutrasweet. If you want to avoid sugar you can use that instead. You could also cut down on the sugar by replacing some of it with cornstarch. Basically to have a dose of 2 teaspoons, you'll want to put in 1/2 cup and 3 tablespoons of filler.
If you want to you can cut out the filler entirely. One dose of your mix will be 1 teaspoon instead of 2. It won't taste as good, but it will still work...
Citric acid
This can be found in the kosher section of supermarkets under the name "sour salt." In Brooklyn, New York, Sahadi's on Atlantic Avenue carries it but they call it "lemon salt." Apparently it can also be found at brewers supplies stores. I've also seen it in regular supermarkets (if you call Garden of Eden regular) with their other spices and even at a cake supply store (but it cost more than $4 per pound). If all else fails, buy a large stash online and make borsh, bath bombs and dishwashing detergent as well as alka selzer. You'll find it at other places too, but this site carries it.
UPDATE:
Several people have commented that plain baking soda can work too -- although it is a common home remedy, adding citric acid has two advantages:
1. when mixed with water and an acid, baking soda has a chemical reaction which produces carbon dioxide. This is the fizz which is produced when this powder is mixed with water. When this reaction happens in your stomach (rather than in the glass, where the gas dissipates into the air) it can cause swelling and tenderness, and it might force more of the acidic stomach juices up the esophagus -- which worsens the heartburn rather than help it.
2. the citric acid acts as a chemical buffer. This means it will not make the Ph of your insides fluctuate wildly as the base (baking soda) hits the acid (stomach juice).
A commenter who tried both methods said the plain baking soda seems to work faster but that soda combined with citric acid prolonged the effect.
Then of course it's simply much more fun (and tasty) to mix a fizzy, sweet drink rather than downing a glass of lukewarm salty water...
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Dec 9, 2009. 9:13 PMlsrieck
says:
Really cool idea - but for me the active ingredient is aspirin. I've ground up plain old aspirin, and added it to vitamin C, with some baking soda and come up with a pretty good substitute. Good for colds, hangovers, upset tummies and the like.
Reply
Jun 14, 2009. 9:49 PMalkatom
says:
Made up a batch following recipe and 10 minutes later it hardened in the air tight container. One thing i left out was the cornstarch , didn't have any. Is it the cornstarch that keeps it from hardening?
Reply
51
Jun 16, 2009. 11:41 AM
belsey (author)
says:
belsey (author)
says:
Yes, the cornstarch would help prevent it from hardening, but it's odd that happened. I've made it without cornstarch (using extra fructose) and I didn't have any trouble. The only time it did turn to stone was when I tried replacing the cornstarch with powdered vitamin C. I still used it though... hacking at it with a fork was a pain but it worked just as well. Maybe your fructose had absorbed more water than mine had. Sorry. Hope you have better luck next time.
Reply
Jun 16, 2009. 10:14 PMalkatom
says:
Broke it up with a knife and hammer, added the cornstarch, and no more cement. Have been taking alkaseltzer for 40 or 50 years with the aspirin and this is a nice substitute. Thanks to the author.
Reply
Dec 18, 2008. 5:20 PMShatman
says:
Hmmm... If I coat some birdseed with this stuff...
Reply
2
Dec 18, 2008. 7:57 PMjongscx
says:
I take it you know that birds can't burp... and that you'd end up with either bloated birds, exploding birds, or birds with explosive... discharge?
Reply
51
Dec 18, 2008. 8:20 PMbelsey (author)
says:
belsey (author)
says:
My curious dog (accidentally) got a little powder on his nose... luckily no discharge of any sort, but he did get a very funny expression on his face when he licked it off...
Reply
Dec 18, 2008. 8:11 PMShatman
says:
Yeah, way back when I used to cut up seltzer tablets and let the birds eat them, then scare them onto my neighbor's car. The bloating really helped them, if you catch my drift.
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