When they hear the words “stomach acid”, most people automatically think acid indigestion or heartburn. Naturally, they associate these with having too much stomach acid, which is why many people turn to acid blocking medicine like tums or Rolaids for relief. In reality however, the opposite is true, medical literature suggests that the majority of people who experience chronic heartburn actually have low stomach acidity levels. Having said that, most adults who have low stomach acid don’t have acid reflux; but they may have bloating, intestinal discomfort or take forever to digest a meal – especially if there is meat or protein involved.
As we age, we produce less stomach acid, and this is a problem for the following reasons:
- It helps us digest
Stomach acid levels go up when we eat to breakdown food and ensure we absorb nutrients properly. Without it, most minerals will not turn into an absorbable format. This is especially true when it comes to digesting protein because stomach acid helps produce pepsin, an enzyme which is actively involved in protein breakdown. If this process doesn’t occur as it should, you get indigestion problems such as bloating, gas and many others
- Stomach acid keeps bad bacteria and fungus at bay
Stomach acid is extremely strong (this is why it needs to stay in the stomach, otherwise you can get terrible reflux that can damage other parts of your digestive system), which allows it to kill bacteria and funghi. If on the other hand you don’t have enough, you will get undigested food, which bacteria and funghi feed on.
There is a book written by Dr. Jonathan Wright, a specialist in this subject, that explains all of this really well if you are interested.
What causes low stomach acid?
As previously mentioned, stomach acid declines with age, which is probably why most people start experiencing digestive issues as adults. However, coffee, alcohol, fatigue and chronic stress can decrease acid production as well. Also, bacteria such as helicobacter pylori can get into stomach lining cells destroying them, which in turn also reduces stomach acidity.
How do you know if you have low stomach acid?
There are many ways low stomach acidity can manifest itself so it is best to test for it. There are two ways you can find out if you are low on stomach acid.
- The Heidelberg stomach acid test
This is probably the most reliable method, however it does have a hefty price tag attached to it. Basically, it involves fasting for 12 hours, swallowing a pill that has a radio transmitter, drinking a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution and then getting your stomach pH analyzed.
- The DIY way
This is probably the easiest one to do if you even though it is certainly not as accurate as the Heidelberg test. First thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything, mix 1/4 tsp of sodium bicarbonate in a ½ glass of water and drink it. Time how long it takes for you to belch. If you do so within 3 minutes, then your acid levels are probably ok. If you don’t you probably have low acidity. To be sure of your results, do this a couple of days in a row to test for consistency in the result.
What to do if you have low stomach acid?
Take Betain HCL. Of course, consult with your doctor, but in my experience, many don’t think of suggesting it. In fact it is not always easy to find – here in Dubai, I had to ask the pharmacy to order it. I found out about this supplement while researching online and then spoke about it to my nutritionist, who said it was safe for me to test.
Betain HCL basically helps stimulate acid production. The tricky part is figuring out how much you actually need. I usually take 2 if I know I am having a protein-heavy meal and only one when eating a low-protein one.
Of course, this is not a silver bullet to all your digestive issues. Diet and understanding your gut chemistry are probably the most important components when it comes to fixing your gut-related problems. However, chances are Betain HCL can help things out.
