Your stomach acid isn’t high, it’s low!
Yes, this is a very surprising thing to hear for many people, but the amount of people I’ve worked with who have been on anti-acid tablets for months, or even years, but they still have their heartburn, acid reflux or GERD. That is because for the majority of people their stomach acid levels are actually low, not high.
So, stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) is very much needed and beneficial to us as humans. Some of it’s main jobs are:
It aids in digestion of our food and the absorption of nutrients
Antimicrobial effect as a line of defence for your gut from any nasties
Protects against permeable gut (known commonly as a leaky gut) which can wreak havoc on your health
Defence against candida, which again has been linked to major and chronic health issues if not dealt with and left
IT FIGHTS HEARTBURN AND ACID REFLUX!
So, how does it actually do this?
The stomach needs to be acidic to allow all the above things to happen, especially aiding with breaking down and digesting the foods we eat, and absorbing those health improving vitamins and minerals. When the stomach is low in stomach acid the LES, lower esophageal sphincter, which is a little valve that sits at the top of the stomach malfunctions and doesn’t close properly when needed. When the stomach isn’t acidic enough the valve doesn’t close and the food we have eaten will repeat on us, and the stomach acid we do have will escape the stomach and burn our esophagus, giving us the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux.
So what causes our stomach acid levels to go low?
Stress
Poor hydration since we need water to help make stomach acid
A poor diet of processed foods, trans fats and high sugar
Smoking
Alcohol
Eating large meals and not chewing properly
Not exercising or even over-exercising
Being overweight or obese
A history of hiatus hernias
Excess caffeine consumption as it will dehydrate the body
You can even do a test for stomach acid at home to see how your levels are. Take 1/4 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda dissolved in 100ml of water first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything. Start a timer and if after 3 minutes you don’t let out a big burp, like if you had drunk something fizzy, then there is a lack of stomach acid to react with the bicarbonate of soda. Let the timer go for 5 minutes for good measure. I tell people to do it 3 days in a row for reliability.
So, take those points above and remove them if they apply to you to start. You can also try a little apple cider vinegar diluted in water before meals to aid with stimulating stomach acid.
Tried these?
If you’re struggling with heartburn, acid reflux, or anything similar then drop me a message to finally get your digestion back on track by working with me to start optimising your health today.