Acid reflux, indigestion, bloating, belching, feeling overfull halfway through a meal is pretty horrible and really hard to live with. These are all signs that our stomach acid is not optimal.
We tend to think we have too much stomach acid causing these problems, but the truth of the matter is, we have too little!
There are other many common symptoms of low stomach acid, such as:
IBS
Hair or nails that frequently break
Food allergies, sensitivities or intolerance
Asthma, particularly if you have wheeziness
Osteoporosis or Osteopenia
Insufficient B12 or other vitamins and minerals
Why do we get low stomach acid?
As we age the amount of stomach acid we have reduces, so it has to work harder to digest all that we put in. Lifestyle factors also play a part, factors such as Stress, Thyroid disorders, medications such as Ibuprofen or antibiotics, constipation or a bacterial overgrowth called H-Pylori
Regardless of the cause, we call this dis-ease state, Hypochlorhydria. It can have a far reaching impact that is seldom acknowledged (or understood) in conventional medicine. In fact, if we present with acid reflux, we are often given stomach acid surpressing medications like Omeprazole - highly effective in the short term, but potentially damaging and exactly the opposite to what we need, long term.
So what can we do?
Reduce stress and do not eat on the go or in a stressed state
Do not drink water or any other liquid 30 minutes before or after eating
Have small amounts to drink with a meal such a diluted lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and on occasions, if desired, a small glass of wine.
Ensure we are having good regular bowel movements everyday
Limit over the counter medications & non prescribed drugs such as Ibuprofen
Get tested for hypothyroid and H-Pylori
Of course we are all unique and so what works for one person, may not work for the other. It may be that there are underlying issues or multiple factors that are causing your GI symptoms and so it may not be a quick fix.
If you would like to chat to see I can help you get to the root cause so that you can be well and stay well, please reach out. You can contact Susanne here
