Stomach Acid
Stomach acid gastric or stomach acid is a digestive fluid made in the stomach and is composed of hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, sodium chloride and is essential to the digestive process. Its function is to break down proteins so food can be digested properly, activate pepsin and chemical signaling so food can pass through the stomach to the small intestine and inhibit the growth of bacteria. This is especially critical to hypothyroid patients because as a result of being hypothyroid, most have low stomach acid, also known as hypochlorhydria, as well a host of other digestive issues because of it. Gas, bloating, heartburn, food sensitivities, leaky gut and bacteria overgrowth are just a few common symptoms of low stomach acid.
When stomach acid is low proteins and key nutrients aren’t getting absorbed, leaving patients deficient in things like iron, B12, magnesium and Vitamin D, for example. What many think is acid reflux or GERD are really the symptoms of low stomach acid and taking medicines for acid reflux such as Prilosec or Nexium actually make things worse. By taking these types of drugs, you can potentially destroy how your body digests and absorbs food.
WAYS TO IMPROVE STOMACH ACID:
- Getting thyroid optimal with NDT/T3 medications as well as adrenals.
- Adding raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (ACV), such as Bragg’s with the Mother, or lemon juice to your daily water. Start low and slow with apple cider vinegar. Do NOT drink it alone as it can burn your esophagus. Know your potassium levels first before starting ACV. If it is high, you may want to take one of the suggestions below.
- Taking Betaine HCL with Pepsin just before meals that contain protein and digestive enzymes before all meals. This will prepare the stomach for digestion by improving stomach acid levels.
- Swedish bitters are known to improve digestion and bile and can help reduce the amount of unhealthy bacteria in the gut.
- Adding bone broth, collagen powder or aloe vera to your diet. They can help heal the gut to better tolerate the addition of ACV or Betaine.
- Taking a quality probiotic to improve the amount of good gut bacteria as well as helping improve immune function.
As you can see, how we are able to digest and absorb foods plays a huge role in our health and immune function and it’s especially important in hypothyroid or other autoimmune patients. A slowed metabolism can lead to a decrease in stomach acid production, vitamin/mineral deficiencies and an increase in bacterial infections. Getting thyroid hormones optimal, suppressing any autoimmune component like Hashimoto’s or Grave’s antibodies, controlling inflammation and healing one’s gut can restore optimal levels of stomach acid thereby improving ones health.
Nutritional Support:
Elaine Damerau Swanson is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP), HTMA Practitioner, Certified AIP Coach and Functional Blood Chemistry Specialist who offers packages to only see her and also packages to see Elaine and a prescribing Dr via video conference calling. For more information, please see Elaine’s website “Farm or Pharma” page here: https://farmorpharma.com/
More reading and medical studies:
Blog on importance of Stomach Acid:
https://farmorpharma.com/stomach-acid-and-why-you-need-it
Blog on Immune system:
https://farmorpharma.com/your-gut-contains-70-80-of-your-immune-system
Blog on Nutrients for Thyroid health:
https://farmorpharma.com/your-thyroid-hormones-need-specific-nutrients-to-function-at-their-best
How to Cure GERD without Medication:
https://chriskresser.com/how-to-cure-gerd-without-medication/
Free E-Book on acid reflux, heartburn, Gerd from Dr. Chris Kresser:
https://chriskresser.com/heartburn/
Nutritional interventions for Gastroesophageal Reflux, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Hypochlorhydria: A Case Report: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27574495
Dietary antioxidants and DNA damage in patients on long-term acid-suppression therapy: a randomized controlled study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12207836
Effect of long-term gastric acid suppressive therapy on serum vitamin B12 levels in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9626024