Sal de Uvas (literally “grape salt” in Spanish) is an over-the-counter antacid sold in small powder packets, most commonly under the brand name Picot. It’s widely used in Mexico and among Latino communities in the United States to relieve heartburn, acid indigestion, and upset stomach. You dissolve the powder in water, it fizzes like an effervescent tablet, and you drink it for fast relief.
What’s Actually in It
Each packet of Sal de Uvas Picot contains two active ingredients: sodium bicarbonate (2.485 g) and citric acid (1.949 g). Both are classified as antacids. Sodium bicarbonate is essentially baking soda, which neutralizes stomach acid on contact. Citric acid reacts with the sodium bicarbonate when mixed with water, creating that distinctive fizz. The combination works quickly, typically bringing relief within minutes.
The inactive ingredients are simple: silicon dioxide (a flow agent that keeps the powder from clumping), sucrose (sugar for taste), and tartaric acid. Despite the name “grape salt,” the product doesn’t contain grape extract. The name likely comes from the tartaric acid, which is naturally found in grapes and contributes a slightly tart flavor.
How to Use It
You empty one packet into a glass of water, stir or let it dissolve, and drink it while it’s still fizzing. It’s meant for occasional use when you’re experiencing heartburn or sour stomach, not as a daily supplement. The relief is fast but temporary. If symptoms keep coming back, that’s a signal something else may be going on with your digestion.
The Sodium Content Worth Knowing About
This is the detail most people overlook. Each single packet contains 712 mg of sodium. To put that in perspective, the American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day total, with an ideal limit of 1,500 mg for most adults. One packet of Sal de Uvas delivers roughly 31 to 47 percent of that daily target before you’ve eaten anything.
If you’re on a sodium-restricted diet, have high blood pressure, or are managing heart or kidney problems, that sodium load matters. The product’s FDA label specifically warns people on sodium-restricted diets to talk to a doctor before using it. For someone who takes it only once in a while for occasional indigestion, the sodium is unlikely to be a concern. But if you find yourself reaching for it regularly, the cumulative sodium intake can add up fast.
How It Compares to Other Antacids
Sal de Uvas works the same way as other sodium bicarbonate-based remedies like Alka-Seltzer. The mechanism is straightforward: baking soda is a base, stomach acid is an acid, and mixing them neutralizes the acid. Calcium-based antacids (like Tums) work on a similar principle but contain almost no sodium, making them a better fit for people watching their salt intake. Liquid antacids containing aluminum and magnesium hydroxide also neutralize acid with less sodium.
The main advantage of Sal de Uvas is speed. Because you’re drinking it dissolved in water, the sodium bicarbonate contacts stomach acid almost immediately. Chewable tablets take a bit longer to break down. The tradeoff is that sodium bicarbonate relief tends to be shorter-lived than calcium or magnesium-based antacids, and the carbon dioxide gas produced by the fizzing reaction can cause belching or a bloated feeling.
Possible Side Effects
The most common side effect is gas and bloating. The chemical reaction between citric acid and sodium bicarbonate produces carbon dioxide, the same gas in carbonated drinks. That gas has to go somewhere, so burping is normal after drinking it.
Taking too much sodium bicarbonate can shift your body’s acid-base balance, a condition called alkalosis. Symptoms include nausea, muscle twitching, and irritability. This is rare with occasional use but becomes a real risk if someone is using multiple packets daily over an extended period. The high sodium content can also contribute to fluid retention and elevated blood pressure with repeated use.
Who Should Be Cautious
Sodium bicarbonate antacids can interfere with how your body absorbs certain prescription medications. Because they change the acidity in your stomach, drugs that depend on an acidic environment to dissolve properly may not work as well. If you take any prescription medications regularly, it’s worth spacing them at least two hours apart from Sal de Uvas.
People with kidney disease need to be especially careful. The kidneys are responsible for clearing excess sodium and maintaining the body’s acid-base balance, both of which are directly affected by this product. Pregnant women sometimes use it for pregnancy-related heartburn, but the sodium content makes it worth discussing with a provider first, since fluid retention is already a concern during pregnancy.
Why It’s a Medicine Cabinet Staple
Sal de Uvas has been a household remedy in Mexican and Latin American families for generations. It’s sold in pharmacies, grocery stores, and bodegas, often near the checkout counter in boxes of individually wrapped packets. Its cultural footprint is similar to what Alka-Seltzer has been in American households. Many people grow up watching a parent or grandparent dissolve a packet after a heavy meal, and the fizzing glass becomes a familiar part of family life. Chemically, it’s a simple, effective antacid. Just keep the sodium content in mind if you’re using it more than occasionally.