Gastric Acid Self-Test
Low (NOT High) Stomach Acid Causes GERD and a Surprising Number of Health
Problems
The stomach's primary job
is to digest protein and emulsify fats, and it does this by making an extremely
powerful acid called hydrochloric acid (HCL) and a protein-digesting enzyme
called pepsin. The hydrochloric acid made by a healthy stomach is one million
times stronger than the mild acidity of urine or saliva. A leather-like strip of
jerky can be quickly turned into "beef soup" by the action of hydrochloric acid
and pepsin in the stomach. That's how normal digestion is supposed to work.
But just like the rest of an aging body, the stomach's hydrochloric acid and
pepsin production decreases over time. As a result, we do not digest food as
well. Many older studies conducted on several thousand people in the 1930's and
1940's showed that half of all people by age 60 were functioning at only 50%
gastric acid output. Numerous contemporary studies
verify that that stomach acid production often declines with age.
Jonathan Wright, M.D.,
well-known and respected holistic physician, states that “Although research
in this area is entirely inadequate, its been my clinical observation that
calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, chromium, selenium, manganese, vanadium,
molybdenum, cobalt, and many other micro-trace elements are not nearly as
well-absorbed in those with poor stomach acid as they are in those whose acid
levels are normal. When we test plasma amino acid levels for those with poor
stomach function, we frequently find lower than usual levels of one or more of
the eight essential amino acids: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine,
phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Often there are functional
insufficiencies of folic acid and/or vitamin B12.”
Remember, these are essential nutrients. Deficiencies of any single one of them
can cause serious health problems over time. Weak bones, diminish immune
function, failing memory, loss of eyesight and many other “diseases of aging”
are often the result of decreased stomach function.
Diseases Associated with
Low Gastric Function
Low stomach acid is
associated with the following conditions:
- Acne rosacea
- Addison’s disease
- Allergic reactions
- Candidiasis (chronic)
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Celiac disease
- Childhood asthma
- Chronic autoimmune hepatitis
- Chronic cough
- Dermatitis herpeteformis
- Diabetes (type I)
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- Eczema
- Gallbladder disease
- GERD
- Graves disease (hyperthyroid)
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Laryngitis (chronic)
- Lupus erythromatosis
- Macular degeneration
- Multiple sclerosis
- Muscle Cramps
- Myasthenia gravis
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- Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)
- Osteoporosis
- Pernicious anemia
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Reynaud’s syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Stomach cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
- Vitiligo
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It also appears that many
cases of depression, which appear related to too little neurotransmitters (which
in turn are made from amino acids) may in fact be inability to absorb the
necessary precursors due to - you guessed it - low stomach acid. I suspect there
are a large number of other diseases that begin with a failing digestive system
and that have not yet been recognized as such.
Even so, many people who
have low stomach acid do not have symptoms of heartburn, “acid indigestion” or
GERD.
The Gastric Acid Function
Self-Test
You
can perform a gastric acid self-test at home using some betain HCL capsules
taken with meals. If digestion improves - bingo! You’re hydrochloric acid
deficient. If you did not have any digestive complaints but you don't feel
anything with added HCL, it is highly likely that you have a stomach acid
deficiency and would benefit from taking betain HCL with meals.
This issue of low stomach
acid is central to so many diseases that I recommend a gastric acid self-test to
EVERYONE over age 50 and anyone under age 50 who has any medical complaint
related to nutrient deficiency.
I’ve put together a “Gastric
Acid Function Self Test Kit” that includes full instructions for testing
your own stomach acid (it’s easy with the instructions) plus “test sizes” of the
supplements - including hydrochloric acid and pepsin - needed for the test.
Testing your own digestive
function is simple and easy, and it could save you much grief, sickness, and
yes, heartburn.
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