High Or Low Stomach Acid Can Have Identical Symptoms

Richmondchironeu • June 24, 2019

Hello everyone:

Our stomach normally makes a very strong acid called Hydrochloric Acid, and the acidity is measured in what is called pH. A pH of 1 to 7 is considered acidic, and above 7 is considered alkaline. Our stomach normally has a pH of under 3.o. It turns out that too much or too little acid can have similar symptoms: bloating, burping, nausea, gas, indigestion, reflux, discomfort, foul smelling stools, loose stools or constipation and more. Over the next several newsletters, we will run down the causes and solutions, but first some definitions:

Hypochlorhydria: means low stomach acid, with a pH above 3.

Achlorhydria: means a nearly total absence of acid, with a pH above 5.

Too little acid means an alkaline stomach, and that can burn as much as too little acid. Our stomach is meant to be very, very acidic, and when it becomes too alkaline it can burn as bad as too much acid. Too much acid is most often associated with elevated levels of histamine in the gut, and erosion of the protective mucus layer or stomach infection (ulceration). It is more common to have low stomach acid than high, so in most cases things that reduce stomach acid are not beneficial when taken for prolonged periods as it can result in nutrient deficiencies, infections, and even kidney damage and more. Moreover, while it may be critical to initially lower stomach acid in an ulcerative situation,it does not solve the problem in the long run and eventually in order to be able to come off the medications the underlying causes may need to be addressed.

Over the next series of news-letters we will cover the following topics, either together or separately:

·        What does stomach acid do for us?

·        What can cause low stomach acid?

·        How does low stomach acid cause or aggravate food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances?

·        How low stomach acid can create nutrient deficiencies.

·        How low stomach acid contributes to dysbiosis, or the wrong gut bacterial balance.

·        How low stomach acid is related to stress and the vagus nerve and anxiety.

·        How low stomach acid can contribute to SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth.

·        How low stomach acid can contribute to or result in ‘leaky gut’ which can lead to ‘leaky brain’.

·        How low stomach acid can contribute to total body inflammation, including brain fog.

·        How high histamine can lead to elevated stomach acid.

·        What is the infection that over 50% of the world’s population has that can lead to low stomachacid?          

·        What foods can cause reflux.

·        What to supplement with safely.

Bottom Line:  Stay tuned and have a great week!!

 

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