Three Common Signs of Hypochlorhydria: AKA Low Stomach Acid

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When you turn on the TV nowadays, stomach acid issues seem to be everywhere. Ads would have use believe that it is nothing more than an annoyance that gets in the way of our favourite foods. In fact, many people think that their stomach acid levels are too high when in reality it might be the opposite. Hypochlorhydria, or low stomach acid, is a regularly overlooked problem linked to other diseases. 

Stomach Acid and Our Bodies

Before we get into the common signs of low stomach acid, let's look at what stomach acid does for us on the daily. Chewing our food may be the first step in digestion, but having a proper stomach acid level could be argued as the most important step. Stomach acid production is vital for proper digestion. PH changes in the stomach have a profound effect on digestive processes downstream from the stomach. When food within your stomach reaches a pH of around 2-4, the valve at the bottom of the stomach, called the pyloric sphincter, starts to slowly release the contents of the stomach into the small intestine, specifically the duodenum. From here the pH level causes the pancreas to release a symphony of digestive enzymes that further break down our food so it can be absorbed properly. 

Stomach acid also is the first key ingredient in the breakdown of complex protein structures within our foods. Additionally, many nutrients, such as iron, calcium, copper, zinc, vitamin B12, and folic acid cannot adequately be absorbed without proper levels of stomach acid. 

If the pH is wrong from the beginning, everything from the stomach downstream to the small intestines and large intestine will be delayed and compromised. A broad range of digestive symptoms can occur. If you suffer from any digestive problems at all, ruling out low stomach acid is the first step to improving your overall digestive health. 

Stomach acid also has another role within our body that we might not think it does. It's a component of our immune system. Think about what stomach acid is and how it breaks down food, now imagine what it can do to certain bacteria and other organisms that we ingest with our food. When our stomach is in a proper state of health, stomach acid creates an acid barrier that easily and quickly kills bacteria and other organisms that enter the body through the digestive tract. Stomach acid also acts a bit like a digestive border control, preventing beneficial bacteria in the intestines from trekking up and colonizing the stomach where they would become pathogenic.

3 Common Signs You May have Low Stomach Acid

1. You Burp, Feel Bloated or Experience Gas After Eating A Meal

Think about the last meal you ate and check off if you've experienced any of the below: 

  • You burp several times after eating
  • You burp a while after eating, and it tastes and smells bad
  • You experience a heavy feeling in your stomach, almost like the food is just sitting there
  • You experience gas hours after eating
  • You get bloated after eating, and it lasts for several hours

If you answered yes to any of the above, there is a possibility that you are suffering from low stomach acid. 

There are some theories as to why this might occur. The first is that food sitting in your stomach is fermenting and a common byproduct is increased gas production. Burping can result right after you finished your meal due to this increased production. Remember how stomach acid acts as a barrier to bacterial overgrowth and migration within the stomach? Well without it bacteria could be surviving in the stomach and thriving off your dinner. Burping several hours after eating can also be clear sign that food is sitting in your stomach when it should have already emptied into your small intestine. Without a low pH, the lower valve of the stomach will not open properly, thus delaying the emptying of the stomach contents.

Many things can cause the symptoms of bloating and increased flatulence after a meal. In the case of low stomach acid, this could be due to bacterial overgrowth in the stomach and upper small intestine. Also, the delayed emptying of the stomach slows down the entire digestive process allowing the bacteria the ability to feast and continue to produce gas leaving us feeling bloated and gassy. 

2. You Feel Terrible When You Eat Meat

You might already be avoiding meat because it makes you feel awful. You've entirely taken it out of your diet and refuse to touch it. You don't know why you do this, but it's better than feeling terrible. In reality, this is a sign that you might be suffering from the physiological problem of low stomach acid production.

Remember how stomach acid is the first step in the breakdown of the protein structures within the food we eat? Now imagine eating a big old steak, but with no ability to break it down properly. That thing will just sit there making use feel heavy and bloated. When animal protein is not properly digestive, it acts like a hypothetical brick in our digestive system. It backs us up and ferments in our gut leading to harder stools and an array of other symptoms. 

Often all forms of animal protein, red, white or any other type, cause individuals to feel terrible. Commonly people will avoid meat and opt for less protein dense foods, which don't result in the terrible feelings they feel when eating meat. 

3. You Experience Acid Reflux After Eating 

Now you may be sitting there wondering, but acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is due to stomach acid? You're not wrong, but the cause isn't always due to an overproduction of stomach acid. As much as drug marketing campaigns have us convinced that GERD is due to an overproduction it can, in fact, be caused by an underproduction of stomach acid.

At the top of the stomach, we have another valve that connects the esophagus and stomach called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Once food has entered the stomach and acid is being released this valve closes preventing the backflow of acid into the esophagus. Full closure of the valve is important because the stomach is protected from stomach acid whereas the esophagus is not. That's why even a little bit of acid splashing back can cause damage resulting in the pain and burning we associate with GERD.

Now if the LES is supposed to stay closed how does it open? First off we have to keep in mind that the LES can malfunction due to a variety of reasons that are not due to acid, but we will save those for another post. In our case, a leading theory is that decreased stomach acid can lead to a variety of conditions that result in an increase in Intra-Abdominal Pressure (IAP). We will go more in-depth into this theory in the future, but for now think of the stomach as a tube of toothpaste, when you increased the pressure at one end it spills out the other end. The only difference with the stomach is that there is the LES at the end which is supposed to remain closed. When the IAP increases, it pushes against the LES. With enough pressure, the LES can open, and even a slight opening will allow acid to splash onto the unprotected esophagus resulting in GERD.

So there you have it, three common signs that you might be suffering from low stomach acid. Now, remember some of these are based on theories, and if you find you suffer from any of the above, you might benefit from getting your stomach acid level tested. It's very simple to do, but always check with your health care provider first before trying anything. 

Now remember some of these are based theories and if you find you suffer from any of the above, you might benefit from getting your stomach acid level tested. It's very simple to do, but always check with your health care provider first before trying anything.