Facts and myths about stomach acid

The proper functioning of the digestive tract is of the utmost importance for the health of the entire body. This is known to many people, but usually people think of the optimal functioning of the intestines. What is often overlooked is the importance of having (sufficient) stomach acid. And there are quite a few myths about this.

But first: the importance of chewing well

Digestion begins in the mouth, where chewing food well is very important. The idea is that food particles are ground well by the molars, so that once the food has reached the stomach, the stomach acid can reach it from all sides. In the stomach, the food should be exposed to a bath of stomach acid, where it should remain for about two hours. This is particularly essential for the digestion of proteins, which are then converted into amino acids, the building blocks of the body.

Heartburn is not a result of too much stomach acid

Many people suffer from 'heartburn', about one in five people suffer from it every week. A big myth is that people think that this is caused by too much stomach acid production, which is why people start using antacids. However, the opposite is true. The stomach has a sphincter muscle at the top that, when you have eaten, should close the stomach like a kind of door that closes when you are inside. This sphincter muscle receives the signal to close when enough stomach acid has been produced by the stomach to digest the food that has come in. If the stomach cannot produce enough stomach acid, the sphincter muscle can eventually no longer close properly. That is the moment that parts of the stomach contents come up. This is experienced as a kind of 'acid reflux' or the so-called 'heartburn'.

This makes people think that there is too much stomach acid and they take an antacid tablet. However, this is very harmful to the body because these tablets neutralize the already low stomach acid in the stomach and the food is then no longer digested properly. This often results in an imbalance of minerals in the body and with such a low level of stomach acid the sphincter of the stomach will no longer close. Then you become 'addicted' to the tablets, because you get more and more 'burning' burps with so little stomach acid.

Less stomach acid as we age

A person of about 50 years old produces about half the amount of stomach acid than when he was 25 years old. This also explains why many people could eat anything in their teens, including the worst fast food combinations, without any significant problems. The same person would be better off not doing that at all around the age of 40, because all kinds of direct problems can arise due to a lack of sufficient stomach acid. Of course, in addition to the fact that it is very unhealthy to eat fast food anyway.

What are the consequences of too little stomach acid?

Due to the lack of stomach acid, our body starts to have problems. First and most importantly: the absorption of the necessary nutrients is disturbed. A lack of amino acids in the blood gives less availability of neurotransmitters, which can lead to unpleasant complaints.

Too little stomach acid also leads to an imbalance in the intestinal flora. Stomach acid should be the first barrier for pathogenic bacteria that should be killed by the acid. This is clearly visible in dogs, which as meat eaters produce a lot of stomach acid and can easily eat spoiled meat without getting sick. People who produce less stomach acid are therefore confronted with all kinds of pathogenic bacteria.

How can you solve a lack of stomach acid?

Fortunately, this lack of stomach acid can be solved easily and naturally. In addition to striving for a healthy lifestyle, ordinary salt, which has been completely 'vilified' by medical science, is a building block of our stomach acid. This must be unrefined sea salt or Himalayan salt, otherwise it does not work. Eating fermented foods, such as raw sauerkraut or other fermented vegetables/beans, contribute to good stomach acid production. It is also very easy to take supplements that contain stomach acid, namely Betaine Hydrochloride, a stomach acid of plant origin. This supplement is of vital importance to many people, which is not sufficiently realized.

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