What if I told you antacids like Tums will not actually solve your indigestion? Gastrointestinal issues are one of the most common concerns I see in my patients and a lot of them are in the habit of taking an antacid anytime they feel heartburn. Unfortunately, the hard truth is that most people have been misinformed about the real cause of acid reflux. In this article, I’m going to give you the scoop on low stomach acid.
Almost everyone will experience heartburn at some point, but GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is defined as frequent symptoms that damage the esophagus. It’s also thought that up to 20% of the U.S. population has GERD.
The common misconception people have about GERD is that it’s caused by too much stomach acid. This makes sense when the only solution is to take acid-blocking medication. Except, these medicines are actually dangerous to your long-term health – and they’re actually exacerbating the real problem.
Most acid reflux is actually caused by having too little stomach acid. In this article we will cover:
- What is Low Stomach Acid?
- Causes of Low Stomach Acid
- Signs You Have Low Stomach Acid
- How to Test and Treat Low Stomach Acid
Let’s uncover this mystery!
What is Low Stomach Acid?
As I mentioned above, the real cause of most indigestion is low stomach acid. It is also called Hypochlorhydria and is what happens when you have a deficiency of stomach acid in your digestive system.
Glands in your stomach naturally produce hydrochloric acid to help your body break down food. Stomach acid is critical to many functions in your digestive tract such as:
- Breaking down proteins in a process called proteolysis.
- Activating Pepsin production.
- Telling the pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes.
- Signaling your stomach to pass food into the small intestine.
- Preventing infections by killing bad bacteria.
When you have low stomach acid the food in your stomach is not digested quickly enough. It lingers longer in your stomach than it is supposed to, resulting in fermentation, and an increase in the wrong type of acid. This then causes the lower esophageal sphincter to stay open rather than close properly. The acid flows back into the esophagus and damages it, resulting in that burning sensation you feel in your chest.
When you have low stomach acid the food in your stomach is not digested quickly enough. It lingers longer in your stomach than it is supposed to, resulting in fermentation, and an increase in the wrong type of acid.
Causes of Low Stomach Acid
Low stomach acid is clearly the culprit of your indigestion. But, what causes low stomach acid? Unlike conventional medicine, we try to get to the root cause of an issue, and unfortunately low stomach acid has many potential causes.
- Age
Age plays a significant role in your levels of stomach acid. Research shows that after 60 your stomach acid levels drop. About 30% of men and women over the age of 65 report a condition that results in little to no stomach acid secretion. Menopause can also play a role in low stomach acid for women.
- Pylori
Helicobacter Pylori is a type of bacteria that grows in your intestinal tract. It helps to keep everything running smoothly. However, like everything else in life, too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing. When H. Pylori growth becomes unchecked or excessive an infection occurs which can cause ulcers, low stomach acid, and an irritated stomach lining.
About 60% of the adult population either has or has had an infection of the H. Pylori bacteria!
- Conventional Medication
Conventional medication to treat indigestion like antacids and proton pump inhibitors actually create more problems than they solve. This is because they are designed to decrease the amount of stomach acid in your system. They also neutralize your stomach’s pH levels which allow microbes and bacteria that normally wouldn’t survive to thrive.
- Parasitic Infections
Yep, this one is gross, I know. But, in the United States alone, over 1.1 million people get infected with various parasites each year. A parasitic infection can severely throw off your body chemistry. They negatively impact the glands that secrete stomach acid, lowering the overall levels. This allows parasites to thrive in a less acidic environment.
- Stress
I’ve written so many articles about stress and the poor health outcomes it creates. While a little stress is helpful, we are often in a state of chronic stress. When you feel stress your body initiates the parasympathetic nervous system. This can cause nasty reactions in your digestive system like spasms, a decreased blood flow, and reduced stomach acid production.
- Vitamin Deficiency
Many people are deficient in vitamins, especially vitamin B12, iron, and zinc. This can lead to low stomach acid levels. Vitamin deficiency can be caused by a few things such as stress, alcohol consumption, smoking, and inadequate dietary intake. B vitamins are especially important because they help to regulate your stomach acid production.
RELATED: RESTORE YOUR GUT MICROBIOME WITH THE 5 R’S PROTOCOL
Signs You Have Low Stomach Acid
Now that we know the many potential causes of low stomach acid, it’s time to learn the signs to watch out for in your own body.
There are several common indicators that point to an imbalance of stomach acid levels. These symptoms may vary from person to person and you may experience one or more. It’s important to take note when you notice something new happening in your body – especially if it’s one of the following signs:
- You have acid reflux
- You have a vitamin B12 deficiency
- You feel unwell when you eat meat
- You experience bloating and flatulence after you eat
- You have undigested food in your stool
How to Test and Treat Low Stomach Acid
If you think you have low stomach acid the best course of action is to work with a functional medicine provider who will be able to give you a diagnosis.
One of the best tests for discovering if you have low stomach acid is the Heidelberg Stomach Acid Test. It measures the exact levels of acid in your stomach.
You start by swallowing a small capsule that contains a tiny radio transmitter. Then, you drink a solution that contains baking soda which reduces the acidity levels in your stomach. The transmitter records your stomach acid levels. If your stomach acid levels don’t return to normal levels after the initial effect of the baking soda solution, it’s a good indicator that you have low stomach acid.
If you discover that you have low stomach acid there are several things you can do such as drinking apple cider vinegar, taking a digestive enzyme, chewing your food slower, etc. The goal is to restore balance to the levels in your body.
As a Holistic Health Coach and Naturopathic Doctor I can help you identify if you’re struggling with low stomach acid or something similar like leaky gut or SIBO. Once we have a diagnosis I will create a protocol and help you overcome any challenges you face so you can start living a life with vibrant, optimal health!
Reach out to me on my contact page to get started!
Mandy Patterson
