STOMACH ACID

Your ability to digest food has an big impact on your health and affects everything from your mood, energy levels, skin, mental clarity, hormones, mineral status, weight and so on. Stomach acid is crucial in this matter, and having low stomach acid is one of the biggest stressors on your body, your gut and your hormones. Why? Because that acid is responsible for getting the digestion started. It’s here the real break down (after chewing) starts, which means that if you are low in stomach acid, this will cause a whole lot of problems for the rest of your digestive system, also. Your stomach squeezes and mixes food with digestive juices, including stomach acid, which kills viruses, bacteria and parasites. Stomach acid also begins the process of breaking down proteins in your food, by activating the enzyme pepsin as well as intrinsic factor, which is a substance that is needed for the absorption of vitamin B12 further down in the digestive tract. 

Picture from pinterest

Picture from pinterest

Many factors can cause our stomach acid to be reduced and not work as it should, here’s some of the reasons

  • Stress (which suppresses the digestive system as well as the stomach acid production)

  • Drinking water together with meals

  • Not drinking enough water in general

  • Mineral deficiencies

  • A vegan or vegetarian diet

  • Antibiotic use

  • A poor diet

  • Medications

  • A diet low in protein

  • Anti acid medications 

Signs of low stomach acid

  • Feeling bad and/or bloated after you eat (especially when eating animal products)

  • Hard time digesting fats

  • Bloated

  • Reflux

  • Heartburn

  • Mineral deficiencies (like B12 as you need stomach acid to absorb minerals from food)

  • Feeling nauseous, especially after meals and after taking supplements

  • Skin problems such as acne and eczema

  • Bad breath

  • Candida

  • No appetite for breakfast

  • Diarrhea/constipation 

    A big part of my work with clients are restoring digestive health and propper stomach acid levels. Which we do by using apple cider vinegar, digestive bitters, avoid drinking together with meals and practicing mindful eating. In some cases (actually many cases) we also have to go for some therapeutic supplements to restore propper digestion and health. Try adding in herbs in the APC also!

Food, SupplementsTrine KristiansenStomach Acid, DigestionComment