Our Story
The journey behind creating Canada's most enjoyable sodium alginate blend
🏥 Medical Expertise Meets Culinary Innovation
OBEX was founded by a multidisciplinary team in Hamilton, Ontario led by Dr. van der Woerd, alongside speech-language pathology, food science, and culinary formulation specialists.
❌ The Problem We Solved
Existing alginate products in Canada had challenging tastes and textures. Importing alternatives from the US was costly and impractical for Canadian patients.
✨ Our Innovation
We created chef-crafted flavours—Mint, Lemon Meringue, and Orange Cream—that patients actually enjoy taking. OBEX means "barrier" in Latin, reflecting alginate's protective properties.
Meet Our Founding Team
Dr. van der Woerd
ENT Surgeon & Laryngologist
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Founding Speech-Language Pathology Lead
Clinical Voice and Swallow Specialist
Hamilton, Ontario
Founding Food Science Lead
Formulation and Stability Development
OBEX Product Development
Founding Culinary Lead
Flavour Architecture and Palatability
OBEX Product Development
Canadian healthcare innovation from Hamilton, Ontario


Ready to Experience OBEX?
Discover the difference that our chef-crafted, science-backed sodium alginate blend can make for your comfort and well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions
OBEX uses medical-grade sodium alginate derived from seaweed. When you take it after a meal, it reacts with your stomach acid to form a protective gel-like "raft" that floats on top of your stomach contents. This physical barrier prevents acid from rising into your esophagus, providing relief in as little as 5-10 minutes.
Supplement Facts
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet
** Daily Value not established
Other ingredients:
Water, Sugar, Natural Flavour, Polylysine
No artificial colors, no artificial preservatives, no complicated chemicals—just effective, natural heartburn relief.
Yes, OBEX is considered safe during pregnancy. Unlike PPIs and many other heartburn medications, alginate therapy works as a physical barrier without being absorbed into your bloodstream. Many pregnant women find it to be an effective and reassuring option. As always, consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.
While antacids neutralize stomach acid (which can sometimes cause rebound acid production), OBEX creates a physical barrier that blocks acid reflux without interfering with your natural digestion. This means you get relief without the potential for "acid rebound" that can occur with traditional antacids.
For optimal results, take OBEX within 30 minutes after your meal. The alginate needs stomach acid to form its protective barrier, so taking it on a full stomach ensures the best effectiveness. Many people also take a dose before bed if they experience nighttime reflux.
OBEX is ready to use and does not require mixing. We recommend starting with 1 teaspoon (5 mL). If needed, you can safely take more based on your symptoms.
OBEX is available in four chef-crafted flavours: Smooth Mint, Lemon Meringue, Orange Cream, and Canadian Maple. Unlike other alginate products with challenging tastes, our formulations were developed by professional chefs to make your heartburn relief something you actually look forward to taking.
Great question! Real mint can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, and citric acid increases stomach acidity—both of which can worsen reflux. However, OBEX uses natural flavour oils, not actual mint leaves or citrus fruit. These flavour oils provide the pleasant taste without the compounds that trigger reflux symptoms. There's no citric acid in our formulations, so you get the enjoyable flavours without the reflux risk.
We ship across Canada with free shipping on orders of 6+ bottles. Most orders arrive within 3-7 business days depending on your location. All products are made fresh in Hamilton, Ontario and shipped directly to your door with tracking provided.
Yes, research shows that alginate therapy can be used as an add-on to existing treatments like PPIs. In fact, studies found that 72% of patients reported improved satisfaction when adding alginate to their PPI regimen. However, we recommend spacing out your doses and consulting with your healthcare provider.
Yes, in a few places!
Hamilton: Find OBEX at both McKnight's Pharmacy locations—685 Main St E (at Proctor) and 460 Main St E (at Ontario). Just stop by during pharmacy hours, no shipping wait required.
Toronto: OBEX is also available at NDcare Naturopathic Clinic (54 Wellington St E and 2455A Queen St E).
Please call ahead at (647) 330-1551 to confirm a bottle is in stock before visiting. NDcare is a clinic, not a walk-in store—please don't show up without calling first.