Are you one of the millions of people suffering from digestive issues? Do you experience bloating, gas, and difficulty digesting meat? It may be time to consider the role of stomach acid in your digestive health.
One of the most popular medications prescribed today is the proton pump inhibitor. Its purpose is to reduce stomach acid. Over $14 billion is spent each year in the US alone.1 While this may seem like a solution for acid reflux and other digestive issues, it is essential to understand the vital role that stomach acid plays in our overall health.
The vital role of stomach acid
Stomach acid is vital for breaking down protein into amino acids, especially animal protein. We need protein in order to build muscle, enzymes, and hormones. Additionally, stomach acid serves as the body’s first line of defense against pathogenic organisms that can cause food poisoning and parasites that can wreak havoc on the digestive system.
Most people lack enough stomach acid
Dr. Jonathan Wright reports that approximately 90% of Americans are deficient in stomach acid or hypochlorhydric. He estimates that only 1 in 1000 are hyper acidic. This means that many of us may be lacking the necessary stomach acid to properly digest our food and absorb important vitamins and minerals.
Results of not having enough stomach acid
The stomach was designed to have an acidic pH between 1.5 and 3. If the stomach doesn’t reach that pH level, it will hold onto the food until it has the right conditions. If that doesn’t happen, these undigested foods begin to putrefy and ferment, letting off a lot of gas and pressure, creating a backflow into the esophagus. The tissue of the esophagus is very sensitive and was never meant to be exposed to these gastric fluids, which results in acid reflux.
Without enough stomach acid, we lack the ability to “cleanse” our food – important for preventing pathogenic organisms that cause food poisoning, breaking down the protein in our foods and absorbing important vitamins and minerals from our food.
Signs of low stomach acid
So what are some signs that you may have low stomach acid?
- Difficulty digesting meat
- Bloating and gas
- Nutrient deficiencies, especially zinc, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins
- Food sensitivities
- Heartburn and acid reflux
- Overgrowth of pathogens, yeast, parasites
- Loss of desire to eat meat
Ways to support stomach acid production
The good news is that there are some easy ways to get started with supporting the production of HCl (hydrochloric acid), AKA stomach acid.
- Take 5 to 10 deep breaths before a meal. This helps you get into a “rest and digest” nervous system mode.
- Sit down to eat and savor your food without distractions. This helps support the parasympathetic mode as well.
- Managing stress. When stress is on, digestion is off.
- About 15 minutes before a meal, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or the juice of a lemon to some water. This helps boost the production of stomach acid. If you suffer from heartburn or acid reflux, you may need to avoid ACV or lemon juice and work on healing your upper gastric tissue first.
- Eat bitter foods like arugula, dandelion greens, artichoke, or dill. If you would rather take a bitter supplement, check out Wise Woman Herbals or Urban Moonshine. Urban Moonshine also makes a purse-size bottle.
- Add a pinch of Celtic sea salt or Redmond Real salt to each glass of water. Good quality sea salt contains over 60 minerals that act as cofactors for HCl production.
Stomach acid is vital for supporting a robust and healthy digestive system. It is important to understand the role of stomach acid in our overall health and to take steps to support its production through stress management, healthy eating habits, and adding bitter foods and minerals to our diet. Taking these simple steps can have a significant impact on our digestive health and overall well-being.
References:
- Liu, L., Yu, Y., Fan, Q., Wu, Z., Li, X., & Luo, H. (2022). Impact of proton pump inhibitor management committee’s multifaceted interventions on acid suppressant prescribing patterns in outpatient and emergency departments. BMC health services research, 22(1), 417.
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