Building Stomach Acid

Optimal digestion depends upon food being doused with a healthy amount of stomach acid or hydrochloric acid (HCL) when it gets to the stomach. Without HCL, the digestion of protein, carbohydrates, and fat will become incomplete.

Carbohydrates need a less acidic environment in our stomach than protein. Diets consisting mostly of protein and carbohydrate combinations like sandwiches and meat and potatoes will slow the production of HCL. Protein signals the production of HCL and carbohydrates signal the stomach to slow HCL production.

The body adjusts to your eating habits by producing less HCL to accommodate both protein and carbohydrates. This leaves a great deal of undigested food in the stomach that eventually begins to ferment creating acid reflux, heartburn and ulcer type symptoms. Taking antacids in this state will only signal to the body to continue to make less HCL, eventually leading to an addiction to things like Tums or Prilosec.

The stomach also needs hydrochloric acid as its first line of defense against pathogens such as unfriendly bacteria, fungus, viruses and parasites. Hydrochloric acid also helps the body to properly absorb essential vitamins and minerals.

According to the National Institutes of Health, common side effects of Prilosec include headache, cough, back pain, stomach pain, constipation, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Adverse side effects include esophageal candidiasis, liver damage, pancreatitis and growth of fundal polyps in the walls of the stomach.

Symptoms of HCL deficiency are:
•    Indigestion or sourness 2-3 hours after meals
•    Abdominal bloating, distension
•    Full, logy feeling after heavy meat meal
•    Loss of former taste or craving for meat
•    Excessive gas, belching or burping after meals
•    Burning sensation in stomach, heartburn or acid reflux
•    Heavy, tired feeling after eating
•    Constipation or diarrhea
•    Stools poorly formed, pale, greasy, floating
•    Undigested food particles in stools
•    Ridges on fingernails, weak, peeling or cracked finger nails, slow growing nails
•    Anxiety, mood swings, depression
•    Acne
•    Rectal itching
•    Chronic candida
•    Hair loss in women
•    Multiple food allergies
•    Iron deficiency
•    Chronic fatigue
•    Adrenal fatigue
•    Dry skin
•    Various autoimmune diseases

The body builds stomach acid or Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) out of salts. Natural salts found in salty vegetables stimulate the digestive system to produce HCL in the stomach.

Excellent foods that build HCL:
•    Celery
•    Kale, chard and spinach
•    Ginger
•    Black olives
•    Mineral salts such as Himalayan (84 minerals)
•    Lemon, lime and grapefruit
•    Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar

Adequate probiotics in the colon are essential in manufacturing the B vitamins needed to stimulate and create quality stomach acid. Vitamin B6 is especially essential to the production of HCL. Unfortunately most B vitamins (including the very important B6) are microwaved or cooked away. Very little food in the Standard American Diet (SAD) is eaten raw and all cooked food depletes any available B vitamins as they are used up in all phases of digestion. And, since B vitamins are water soluble, they are flushed from the system when they are not being utilized. Try this HCL Stimulating Juice.

“Vitamin U” is not a real vitamin but just a label for a powerful healing enzyme found in cabbage. It is applauded for it’s anti-ulcer abilities and quickly cures stomach ulcers and heals the stomach lining. Fermented cabbage is especially useful in soothing an inflamed stomach lining and correcting low stomach acid.

Healthy liquid bile is essential to readying the small intestines for the acid sludge that is released by the stomach. When the liver is unable to create quality bile, the gall bladder becomes congested. The signal to the stomach to release the acid never gets sent. The bile itself, is too sludgy to put out the heat of the acid stomach contents. Therefore, food remains in the stomach and ferments creating excess acid symptoms. Or worse, when the stomach finally releases the sludge to inadequate bile and enzymes, the sludge injures intestinal walls. This injury can create leaking into the bloodstream of allergens and pathogens that were meant to be eliminated through our waste.