Stomach Acid: Helpful or Harmful?
Stomach acid has gotten a bad reputation in recent years. However, hydrochloric acid (AKA stomach acid) is actually one of the most important substances involved in digestion!
Surprised? Let’s break it down…..
Infection Prevention
Every day, we consume tons of microbes, bacteria and/or fungi through the food and beverages we enjoy. In normal circumstances, when stomach acid is present, these unwanted bacteria are killed off via stomach acid. However, when stomach acid is low, they are able to survive and enter into your small intestine. This puts you at a higher risk of developing infections, microbiome imbalances and foodborne illness.
Protein Digestion
Have you ever felt that high protein meals make your stomach hurt? There could be a very good reason why! Within your stomach, a substance called pepsinogen is released via chief cells. This is the non active form of the enzyme pepsin, which plays an important role in protein digestion. Pepsinogen activates into pepsin when mixed with stomach acid. Without adequate stomach acid production, protein digestion is impaired.
Vitamin B12 Absorption + Anemia
Animal products, which are also rich in protein, tend to be a significant dietary source of the vitamin B12. Similar to when we discussed protein digestion, pepsin is needed to release B12 so it can bind with other substances and be absorbed through the intestine wall into your blood. And given that B12 is required for the production of red blood cells, a deficiency in Vitamin B12 can lead to a deficiency in Iron. This is why the onset of anemia is often the result of a B12 deficiency rather than an Iron deficiency on its own
Chemical Signaling
When stomach acid is released within the stomach, it produces chemical signals that stimulate digestive organs like the pancreas to make and release digestive enzymes that help to break down food. It also triggers the release of bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid before it enters into your digestive tract and stimulates muscle contractions (known as peristalsis) which help to further break down and move food through your digestive tract.
You may be thinking, “is there a way to test for low stomach acid?”
One of the easiest & most inexpensive ways to do this is to take the baking soda stomach acid test. Here’s how….
First thing in the morning (before eating or drinking), mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4 ounces of cold water.
Drink the baking soda solution.
Set a timer and see how long it takes you to burp. If you have not burped within five minutes, stop timing.
Repeat 2 - 3x times to confirm results.
When baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) mixes with stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) it creates a chemical reaction in your stomach which in turn produces carbon dioxide gas, resulting in a burp. In theory, if your stomach is producing adequate amounts of stomach acid you’ll burp within two to three minutes of drinking the mix. Any burping after three minutes may indicate a low acid level.
**While this test is great for gaining insight into stomach acid levels, it is not 100% accurate. Always discuss concerns/follow up with your medical team!**
Struggling with gut issues? Schedule a FREE discovery call here!
