How is hcl used in your body

If you are under stress, overeat or eat foods that upset your stomach, you may produce excess HCL. Too much HCL can result in acid indigestion, or heartburn, which causes a burning discomfort in your stomach or esophagus.

Over-the-counter and prescription antacids contain a base material that neutralizes and counters the effects of stomach acid. In more severe cases of excess stomach acid, other medications are used to reduce the amount of HCL produced in the first place.

She has covered health and lifestyle for various print and online publishers since She holds a Master of Science degree in nutrition. Related Articles. What Are Acid-Forming Foods?

What Are the Benefits of L Tryptophan? When gastric acid reaches the esophagus, it causes symptoms including pain, burning, coughing, hoarseness, throat irritation, asthma and more. Can high amounts of HCL in the stomach cause ulcers or heartburn? The stomach itself does not get damaged by HCL because the lining of the stomach is protected by secretions that help form a thick mucus layer.

Again, heartburn and peptic ulcers are usually the result of dysfunction of the mucus layer of the stomach and of the sphincter valve. These drugs inhibit the production of acid in the stomach. They work by neutralizing excessive acid that is already in the stomach, but this can have negative effects in the long term.

What are the effects of hydrochloric acid on the bacteria living within your gut? HCL helps maintain a very acidic environment in the digestive system , making it difficult for dangerous microbes to survive.

We need gastric acid to protect us against developing various types of yeast, fungal and bacterial infections. Some studies suggest that HCL may also help break down food allergens into smaller molecules, making them less likely to cause negative reactions and autoimmune responses. Certain studies have also found a correlation between low stomach acidity and increased infection by Helicobacter pylori H. An overgrowth of fungus and yeast, called candida, can develop when the pH in the stomach is too alkaline and not acidic enough.

It can spread through the intestines and also to other parts of the body, including the genitals, mouth and toenails. Candida symptoms range considerably from person to person but can include exhaustion, cravings, weight gain, fluid retention and brain fog.

A plethora of healthy bacteria in the gut and a properly functioning immune system are essential when fighting this stubborn infection. Believe it or not, struggling with common skin issues like rosacea, acne, eczema and dermatitis has been linked to low stomach acid production and increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the gastric lining. What can hydrochloric acid do for your skin?

Some research has found that supplementing with hydrochloric acid and B vitamins may help reduce inflammatory skin symptoms like rosacea and redness in people with low stomach acid. Research suggests there is also a link between SIBO small intestine bacterial overgrowth and rosacea. This increases inflammation that leads to skin being overly sensitive and easily irritated. In addition to contributing to leaky gut, the inability to break down protein foods into useable amino acids can lead to deficiencies and widespread problems.

This may contribute to symptoms like fatigue, mood-related problems, poor skin health, hair loss and much more. HCL also facilitates absorption of other micronutrients, including vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, selenium and boron.

In fact, this is why people using proton pump inhibitors are known to be at an increased risk of having very low vitamin B12 levels. Certain foods and lifestyle habits can help balance production of HCL and limit symptoms like acid reflux.

Below are foods to incorporate into your diet and other tips to overcome problems related to insufficient stomach acid:. One of the best foods for balancing the pH in your stomach is apple cider vinegar. I recommend taking about one to two teaspoons of high-quality ACV the raw, fermented kind mixed with a bit of water right before you eat your main meals. Start with a smaller amount and work your way up as needed. Apple cider vinegar is beneficial because it has a very low pH and is highly acidic, so it mimics some of the effects of gastric juices.

Reducing inflammation and removing highly processed foods from your diet can help. Try following this acid reflux diet to support overall gut health:. Stress reduction is also considered an important step in holistically treating stomach acid imbalances. Foods that are said to make stomach acid problems worse in an Ayurvedic diet include citrus juices, tomatoes, chilies, onions, garlic, alcohol, fried foods and caffeine.

Foods that can help balance stomach juices include those that are cold, astringent and bitter. For example, peppermint tea and other herbal teas, pomegranate juice, watermelon, split moong dal, green leafy vegetables, banana, cucumbers, and chilled milk are all recommended.

Stress reduction, sleep, massage, yoga and meditation are also encouraged to soothe an inflamed stomach. Additionally, herbs like holy basil, licorice, coriander and amla are used to reduce stress and normalize acid production. Acupuncture is recommended as a natural treatment for various digestive disorders and symptoms, including acid reflux, gastritis, food allergies, ulcers, irritable bowel and colitis.

These practices help the digestive organs gallbladder, pancreas, liver and spleen aid the stomach in breaking down food and reduce pressure that causes digestive pains.

What are HCL supplements, and should you take them? If you have low stomach acid, taking an HCL supplement that also contains pepsin can be very helpful, especially if you seem to struggle with digesting protein. Most of the experiments were conducted by tying a piece of food to a string and inserting it through the hole into St.

Every few hours, Beaumont would remove the food and observe how well it had been digested. Beaumont also extracted a sample of gastric acid from St.

In September, Alexis St. Martin left Dr. Beaumont and moved to Canada, leaving Beaumont to concentrate on his duties as an army surgeon. Beaumont also used samples of stomach acid taken out of St.

This led to the important discovery that the stomach acid, and not solely the mashing, pounding and squeezing of the stomach, digests the food into nutrients the stomach can use; in other words, digestion was primarily a chemical process and not a mechanical one. During and , Dr. In he was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri. While en route to St.

Louis, Alexis St. In early , Dr. Beaumont conducted another set of experiments on St. Beaumont left the army in and moved to Washington, D. There he met St. Martin once again, and performed another set of experiments on how various foods were digested in the stomach. In , Beaumont returned to Plattsburgh where he wrote a book about his experiments on digestion titled Experiments and Observations on the Gastric Juice and the Physiology of Digestion. Martin returned to Canada during the spring of , and would never see Dr.

Beaumont again, although he corresponded with the Beaumont family; St. Martin died in In , Beaumont re-enlisted and was stationed at St. He left the service in , and maintained a private practice in St. Louis until his death in Beaumont is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery St. Patients with symptomatic functional dyspepsia a disorder of digestive function characterised by discomfort or heartburn or nausea are more likely than people free of this condition to exhibit increased somatisation conversion of an emotional, mental, or psychosocial problem to a physical complaint , more stressful life events, less belief in religion, and drink less tea, suggests the article out in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

The lead researchers say that this pattern of findings support a less reductionist approach and favours the strategy that includes considering the patient from a holistic view point. The findings of the study suggest the importance of adopting a more comprehensive holistic bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model when dealing with functional dyspepsia patients.

The researchers identified factors associated with dyspeptic symptoms by comparing demographic and psychosocial features in individuals exhibiting reddish streaks in the stomach, of whom 93 were symptomatic for functional dyspepsia and 67 asymptomatic.

The two groups did not differ with regard to smoking behaviour, alcohol consumption, and coffee intake, but symptomatic patients were significantly less likely to drink tea than their asymptomatic peers, at Symptomatic patients also had greater scores for somatisation, depression, anxiety, and psychotism and general severity index of psychopathology compared with asymptomatic patients.

Understanding the characteristics of functional dyspepsia will provide a rationale for the clinician to explain the meaning of the symptoms and to achieve better management. Conclusion: Functional Dyspepsia FD with gastric reddish streaks exhibited increased somatisation, more stressful life events, less belief in religion, and less tea consumption as compared with asymptomatic counterparts.

The findings of the study suggest the importance of adopting a more comprehensive holistic bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model when dealing with FD patients. Comment: In natural or non allopathic medicine, some reductionists criticise the term holism and dismiss the idea that a patient is any more than the sum of a number of often disparate symptoms. This article is interesting in that the treatment strategy recognises that the complaint is also managed by a number of social and lifestyle factors that when taken in context with the patient is the optimal approach to resolution.

Low hydrochloric acid levels are very common. The older you are, the more likely you are to have low levels. There are a number of reasons for this situation, including stress and age.

However, another reason is nutrient deficiencies. Low levels of the mineral zinc and vitamins B1 and B6 can also contribute to low levels of stomach acid. Deficiencies in zinc and B vitamins are extremely common either due to lack of intake from food or due to increased needs for example, chronic stress, or due to depletion by alcohol or smoking for example.

As we have seen from the functions of hydrochloric acid, it plays vital functions in digestion and if these are not capable of working properly because your stomach acid is too low then you increase your risk for developing food intolerance.

This test is called the Gastro-Test. Your answers to the questionnaire identify whether you should do this test or not. The results of the Gastro-Test identify whether you should ultimately take supplements of hydrochloric acid.

A very small minority of people actually have high stomach acid, but this is considerably lower than the number we are lead to believe. The observational questions below help you to identify if you have low HCl acid and support the further investigations discussed below.

The test consists of a weighted gelatin capsule with 70 cm of highly absorbent cotton floss attached to one end of the capsule. The test kit also includes a surface marking pH stick and a pH colour chart. Water, but not food, is allowed anytime during the fast. The patient then drinks one to two cups of water — ml and swallows the capsule. The patient then lies on their left side for ten minutes.

Lying down allows for maximal contact between the floss and the gastric pool. After ten minutes, the patient is asked to sit in a comfortable chair with their head slightly extended. The floss is then placed on a piece of white exam paper to augment visualisation of the colour change.

The pH stick is then rubbed along the moist end of the string and the resultant colour change is then compared to the pH colour chart. A pH of less than 3 on any part of the distal half of the floss indicates that the stomach is secreting hydrochloric acid properly.

A pH greater than 3 indicates hypochlorhydria, whereas a pH of 5 or above indicates achlorhydria. If you do have a low level of stomach acid, as proven by the Gastro-Test, then you should also then look to test for the presence of a bacterium called Helicobacter Pylori that can cause this, prior to commencing any hydrochloric acid supplements.

Helicobacter Pylori is the most common chronic bacterial pathogen in humans. It lowers stomach acid levels whilst damaging the mucosal protection within the stomach. It has been attributed as one of the prime causes of stomach and duodenal ulcers.

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that can inhabit various areas of the stomach, particularly the antrum. It causes a chronic low-level inflammation of the stomach lining and is strongly not only linked to the development of duodenal and gastric ulcers but also stomach cancer. The bacterium was initially named Campylobacter pyloridis, then renamed C. When 16S rRNA gene sequencing and other research showed in that the bacterium did not belong in the genus Campylobacter, it was placed in its own genus, Helicobacter.

Infection is more prevalent in developing countries, and incidence is decreasing in Western countries. Interest in understanding the role of bacteria in stomach diseases was rekindled in the s, with the visualization of bacteria in the stomach of gastric ulcer patients. The bacterium had also been observed in by Australian pathologist Robin Warren, who did further research on it with Australian physician Barry Marshall beginning in After numerous unsuccessful attempts at culturing the bacteria from the stomach, they finally succeeded in visualising colonies in , when they unintentionally left their Petri dishes incubating for 5 days over the Easter weekend.

In their original paper, Warren and Marshall contended that most stomach ulcers and gastritis were caused by infection by this bacterium and not by stress or spicy food, as had been assumed before. Marshall is well-known for proving that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is the cause of most peptic ulcers, reversing decades of medical doctrine which held that ulcers were caused by stress, spicy foods, and too much acid.

If you took stomach acid and had H. Pylori then this could produce unpleasant side effects, usually of a painful nature sore, burning gut lining , which is why it is so important to rule out its presence before proceeding with taking hydrochloric acid.

Ask your doctor for a breath or stool antigen test the latter is more accurate as a marker of ongoing infection because the blood test cannot tell you whether you have successfully eradicated the bacterium, except after many months the antibodies remain in the bloodstream for months.