The right pH—especially in the stomach—goes a long way toward promoting wellness.
You can’t turn on the TV without hearing about the dangers of too much stomach acid. But research reports that a little acidity helps protect humans from numerous diseases and unwanted conditions.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)—like those purple pills you hear so much about on television—have been associated with pneumonia in a number of studies. That’s because stomach acid kills numerous pathogens including those that lead to pneumonia.
And that’s not the only problem with these highly touted PPIs. Scientists at Wake Forest University Health Services link PPIs to cardiac, metabolic, and orthopedic—as well as infectious—diseases, advising anyone taking these drugs to get a bone scan. “Use of drugs that inhibit gastric acid is associated with an increased risk of fracture,” reports another recent study in Gastroenterology.
Dr. Ann Louise’s Take:
With all the talk these days about the importance of alkalinity, we tend to forget that certain organs—like the stomach and colon—are designed to function in an acid medium. And for good reason! That’s why the research from Wake Forest is so enlightening.
A recent Czech study shows that long-term use of PPIs not only increases the risk of bacterial overgrowth but also leads to malabsorption of nutrients from foods. Poor absorption of bone-building minerals can cause osteoporosis.
Stomach acid helps protect against H. pylori, a “super bug” that causes ulcers, as well as others like E. coli and salmonella that are increasingly becoming a scourge. In fact, some experts find that even acid reflux (a painful condition where stomach acid splashes up into the esophagus) is far more likely to be caused by too little—rather than too much—acid.
The Stomach Acid Challenge
Before you consider dangerous drugs like PPIs, check to see if you have sufficient stomach acid—but not if you have a weakened stomach lining, ulcers, or hiatal hernia. These conditions need to be addressed and healed before you try the stomach acid challenge:
• Take a hydrochloric acid (HCl) supplement (500 to 550 mg betaine hydrochloride and 150 mg pepsin) or HCL+2 with a meal.
• Observe your body’s response. Extreme warmth means you have sufficient stomach acid—don’t add more!
• If you have no relief from digestive problems or feel no pain or warmth, double your HCl dose at the next meal.
• Continue adding HCl until you feel warmth or experience relief.
• After reaching your limit, take one less tablet with meals, and after 3 to 6 months, try gradually reducing your dosage.
The take-away message here: HCL+2 (hydrochloric acid with bile salts) promotes the digestion of protein, fat, and acid-based minerals (calcium, magnesium, and iron) for anyone with low stomach acid. If you are reluctant to use an HCl supplement, you can always try some apple cider vinegar in water (2 teaspoons to 8 ounces of water) which will help to acidify your stomach gently and enhance digestion.
The LES Connection
While HCl is certainly an issue for many individuals, it’s not the entire answer to reflux.
Sometimes the underlying cause is a weakened valve between the esophagus and stomach known as the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. Weakness in this muscle can lead to acid backup. Avoiding excess fats, alcohol, sugar, chocolate, coffee, and raw onions can keep this muscle strong, so that it stays closed when it’s supposed to—and keeps acid in your stomach, right where it belongs.
Sources:
Fat Flush for Life
The Gut Flush Plan
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17381122
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20353792
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20222914
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20329581
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20144536
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19855816
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19021808
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18663617
Visionary, health guru, diet/detox expert, author, spokesperson, role model, and natural foods icon, Ann Louise Gittleman has always been a trendsetter. 
This advice is dangerous. I followed, it taking the digestive enzymes, and now have serious stomach problems. WATCH OUT!
I don’t think digestive enzymes could cause serious problems – they are very gentle. Sounds like you had serious stomach problems before and are attributing them mistakenly to the enzymes.
Hi Anne Louise,
Given the “Take the Acid Test” article, can you please advise if yourecommend
drinking alkaline water. Is drinking alkaline water good for ones health overall,
and how does it affect the acidity of the stomach, colon etc.
‘
We would love to hear your take on “Alkaline Water” for drinking.
Susie
WARNING this is very dangerous advice. I followed it and now have major stomach problems.
PS my first post was removed probably because it was a negative to this advice
puppy toes,
When you do the test properly it is not harmful in any way. HCL is naturally produced in our stomach. You must have taken way too much if it caused problems. It is important to lpay attention to how your stomach feels when you are doing the test. I have been taking HCL for years to help digestion and do the test to determine how my needs change..
PuppyToes – I don’t see where she is promoting a digestive enzyme. She gives a test to see if you have sufficient stomach acid. In addition, there are so many factors that you don’t elaborate on to give sufficient warning to this advise (ie. what you took, how long you took it, if you took any probiotics, what happened and what your diagnosis is now). Just my opinion.
I never exceeded the dosage and did take the test.
The correct dosage is the one that does not bother you. You must have had other issues in your digestive system at the same time and you are blaming HCL.
I had no issues with my digestive tract prior to taking the digestive enzymes. Nothing. Then after learning about them on ALG’s website, Charlies’ post that explained about having a flap at the top of the stomach that only closes when there is sufficient acid in the stomach acid and if there is not, then the flap stays open and the existing acid will splash up.
I began taking them, 1 or 2 with each meal, none with snacks. After a year, I started having stomach aches, stopped the enzymes, saw the doctor who also believes the enzymes are to blame. Now I have to take the PPIs to heal. So yes, I believe the enzymes are to blame.
Did you have any tests done to determine if you had any other stomach issues like pathogenic bacteria including H. Pylori? There are other reasons you may have had stomach aches.
I have extreme bloating and gas after eating and have tried several different herbs and have had several stomach scans to no relief. I am wondering if this product would help. I have asked my Dr. to do a H pyloir test and he says I don’t need that. The problem with most medical Dr. is they only want to give you an RX and not run test. I also feel acid coming up when I lay down occasionally.
HCL +2 has been helpful with many individuals and a trial run couldn’t hurt. Sometimes extreme bloating and gas are linked to food sensitivities and/or yeast so please rule these out. ALG’s Gut Flush Plan may be of help to you because it deals with ALL the underlying causes of gut grief!
You may try to eliminate gluten, & wheat. i tried alot of things also because of gas, bloating etc. and when I gave up gluten I felt much better. You may not be a Cealiac person but just sensitive to gluten & grains.
How does taking the HCL-2 help one increase their own stomach acid? It seems to me one would get dependant on them…Is that true?
HCL+2 helps digest, especially protein which helps speed up one’s metabolism. Then it is possible to have high enough levels of sodium and potassium and energy on the cellular level to manufacture more of your own HCL.
My MD, who specializes in alternative medicine, did a cellar analysis that showed me highly acidic and recommended I use pH papers to test my urine. She also gave me an extensive list of alkaline foods to eat. My question is this: why did you not recommend the pH papers? Are they a reliable test of the acid/alkaline nature of the stomach and colon? If they are reliable, what would be the number you recommend as advantageous?
I might add that I still try to eat alkaline, now take PPIs and am still highly acidic according to the pH papers. Organic cider vinegar causes a burning. I have had two rounds of alternative allergy treatment. I “cleared” but the food allergies returned. I avoid sugar and grains. I’m better but I’m not good. I have read about your detox products but I also read not to do it if a person is not in a good nutritional state. that would be me!
Thank you for a reply.
Jay