Have you been told that your indigestion, bloating , heartburn is due to too much acid in your stomach? Are you taking an acid suppressant everytime you eat? You could be making your problem worse! Most likely you have too little stomach acid, not too much.
Our stomach should have a Ph of 1-2 when we eat. ( The ph scale is 0-14; 0 being most acidic and 14 most alkaline). A ph level of 1-2 could destroy metal. When there is no food in the stomach the ph rests at 3-4. You can see how acidic our stomachs need to be!
Stomach acid plays two vital roles in our health; protection adn absorption. The acid is our first defense against harmful pathogens, microbes, and bacteria that could have entered through our food. The acid aids in the absorption of minerals and the breakdown or protein into digestible forms. If we don’t have enough stomach acid this can lead to problems.
First, pathogens have a much greater survival rate and a better chance of getting into the body. Secondly, food does not get broken down properly. The food will sit in the stomach longer than it should and putrefy. This can cause gas, bloating, indigestion, etc. When our food isnt broken down we can not absorb the vitamins and minerals from that food efficiently. Long term this leads to malnourishment which leads to disease.
If you are like most you take an acid – blocking med ( either over the counter or prescribed). Hmmmm, isnt this going to do the exact opposite of what we need? The short term relief can cause long-term health issues.
What causes low stomach acid? As we age we lose stomach acid. Overuse of antibiotics, stress, and bacterial infections are all factors that can lead to low stomach acid.
So what are you to do? Here are some tips to overcome indigestion, etc naturally:
- RELAX when you eat. When we are in a stressed state we do not digest our food well. So many of us eat on the run, eat while we work, eat while standing. I understand , we are in a hurry. Do your best to take time to sit down to your meals.
- CHEW your food. This sounds so simple, but so many of us dont chew our food thoroughly. This small change can be profound!
- Digestive enzymes and / or HCL with pepsin. If you still find yourself feeling uncomfortable after eating take a digestive enzyme and / or a hydrochloric acid supplement with pepsin to aid in the breakdown of your food. Just 2 HCl tablets can be powerful. *** as with any supplement, consult with your nutritionist or health professional before starting.
- Take 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar with meals
GET THE RIGHT OUTPUT FROM THE RIGHT INPUT