How to overcome low stomach acid

By Mohamad Ali

Stomach acid is required for the absorption of nutrients and the control of undesirable microorganisms and it becomes the body’s first line of defense against infections, effectively sterilizing your food. In addition, it is also required for the breakdown of protein in the stomach. However, its action on protein breakdown is only effected in the presence of pepsinogen where the two combines to form a very powerful enzyme called pepsin. Low stomach acid is called hypochlorhydria while its absence is referred to as achlorhydria. These two states have been associated with carcinoid tumours in the digestive tract. Half of the population above the age of 60 suffers from hypochlorhydria.

You must be concerned with low stomach acid because a lack of the acid will leave you unable to digest your food properly and this will also make you more vulnerable to infections. This condition leads to indigestion especially with high protein meals. Food allergies will arise because of the large amount of undigested protein molecules in the small intestine. The body cells such as in the pancreas need vitamins and minerals to produce enzymes to digest food. If there is indigestion, none of the nutrients will be available to feed the cells and thus these cells cannot produce the enzymes.

Symptoms of low stomach acid include burping, bad breath, flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and indigestion associated with protein rich foods. These undigested foods hang around in the small intestine, feeding the bacteria that live there. These bacteria produce gas and that is why there is bloating, digestive pain and flatulence.

In order to solve the problem, you need to do the following:

1. Take zinc supplement as zinc is critical to the proper functioning of body cells. The soil is heavily depleted of zinc. The production of stomach acid is dependent on the sufficient intake of zinc.

2. Avoid stress as this emotional state will suppress stomach acid.

3. A digestive enzyme supplement is required to assist in the digestion of food.

4. A daily dose of a multi vitamins and minerals tablet is required to assist in the production of enzymes.

5. Do not rush through your meals, and chew thoroughly.