5 Steps to Naturally Treat Low Stomach Acid

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Low stomach acid - Dr. Axe

Here, I’m going to talk about natural remedies for low stomach acid.


The truth is, your stomach must be highly acidic to break down the food you’re consuming and for proper absorption. If you have acid reflux symptoms of any type — GERD, heartburn, etc. — or if you have a condition like leaky gut syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease, even most skin issues today, or a lack of certain nutrients, those are all major warning signs that you have low stomach acid.


To combat this issue, you actually want to naturally balance the pH level of your stomach. I’m going to talk about the top five steps you can follow and natural remedies you can take to improve your stomach acid and digestive function.


First, let’s discuss are some causes, symptoms, and risk factors associated with low stomach acid.


Causes and Risk Factors


Low stomach acid, also known as hypochlorhydria, is a condition characterized by a decrease in the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.


Common causes include:



  1. Aging: As we age, the production of stomach acid naturally declines.

  2. Chronic stress: High levels of stress can affect the functioning of the digestive system, leading to reduced stomach acid production.

  3. Helicobacter pylori infection: This bacterial infection can cause inflammation and damage to the stomach lining, which may reduce acid production.

  4. Pernicious anemia: An autoimmune condition where the body is unable to absorb vitamin B12, leading to low stomach acid.

  5. Gastric surgery: Surgical procedures that involve the removal or alteration of the stomach can affect acid production.

  6. Medications: Certain medications, such as proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 (H2) blockers, can lower stomach acid levels.


Other causes include:



  • chronic illness

  • eating too fast

  • food sensitivities or allergies

  • high sugar intake

  • zinc deficiency


Symptoms



  • Indigestion: This includes symptoms like bloating, belching, flatulence and a feeling of fullness after meals.

  • Acid reflux: Surprisingly, low stomach acid can cause symptoms similar to those of high stomach acid, including heartburn, regurgitation and chest pain.

  • Nutrient deficiencies: Inadequate stomach acid can impair the absorption of nutrients like iron, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B12, leading to deficiencies.

  • Food sensitivities: Low stomach acid can interfere with the breakdown of proteins, triggering immune reactions and food sensitivities.

  • Bacterial overgrowth: Insufficient stomach acid can allow the overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach and small intestine, leading to conditions like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).


Other low stomach acid symptoms include:



  • nausea

  • constipation

  • diarrhea

  • infection

  • undigested food in stool

  • hair loss

  • dry skin

  • bad breath

  • weak hair and nails


How to Treat Low Stomach Acid


1. Ingest Apple Cider Vinegar


The No. 1 thing you can do to start to balance this pH in your stomach is use apple cider vinegar right before your meals. I would take one tablespoon and just a very small amount of water. Apple cider vinegar is a great natural remedy because apple cider vinegar has a very low pH in balance with your stomach.


By the way, oftentimes I’ll add digestive bitters to my apple cider vinegar before a meal. You can get a little tincture of digestive bitters. In fact, bitters have been consumed for thousands of years right after meals or before meals to improve digestion.


2. Take Digestive Enzymes


The No. 2 step you want to start taking to improve your stomach acid are digestive enzymes. I would get a good digestive enzyme blend and take one to two caps right before your meal. You could even take that with the apple cider vinegar.


Digestive enzymes will help you fully break down those nutrients you ingest. If your stomach acid is too high, that will actually not allow you to break down the food you’re eating, so you must get plenty of enzymes.


That’s not something you should have to take the rest of your life, but it is something you should take for a time until your stomach acid balances out.


3. Add HCL with Pepsin to Your Diet


The No. 3 thing you may consider if you have low stomach acid is HCL with pepsin — hydrochloric acid with pepsin.


Now, hydrochloric acid is naturally created in your stomach. That is really the main thing that creates that very acidic environment to break down food.


But if you’re deficient in hydrochloric acid, and stomach acid itself, that’s not going to allow you to fully digest and break down things like protein, which, over time, can also cause a condition called leaky gut.


So you want to do everything you can to heal and repair your gut. HCL with pepsin is a great thing you can start taking on a regular basis to really help treat your GI tract, help fight things like acid reflux and improve low stomach acid.

Here are some natural remedies to improve low stomach acid:

1. Consider taking HCL with pepsin, but make sure to consult a physician or start with one capsule. Only take HCL with pepsin if you're consuming protein during a meal. If you're not eating protein, it's best to avoid it. Adjust the dosage based on the warmness in your stomach, ranging from one to nine capsules.

2. Use Manuka honey, known for its antimicrobial properties, to treat conditions like SIBO and stomach ulcers. Take a teaspoon daily to reap its benefits.

3. Chew your food thoroughly and opt for smaller meals to aid digestion. Challenge yourself to chew 30 times before swallowing to promote better stomach acid levels.

4. Consider incorporating fasting or intermittent fasting into your routine to allow your body to heal and balance stomach acid levels. Giving your body time to recover can have significant benefits for gut health. Remember, balanced stomach acid is essential for overall well-being. By following these natural remedies, you can expect to see improvements in your stomach acid levels.

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