Hypochloridia: Low Stomach Acid

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Correcting Hypochloridia: Low Stomach Acid

C. Byrnes, N.D., RNCP

HOW DO YOU SPELL RELIEF?

One might think from watching TV commercials these days that

North Americans are drowning in a pool of stomach acid.

Despite the plethora of advertisements touting the benefits of

various antacid preparations for " excess acid " and/or " acid

indigestion, " hypochloridia, or low stomach acid, is a very

common problem with possible serious consequences. While the

stomach secretes hydrochloric acid (HCL) along with the enzyme

pepsin to begin the digestion of proteins, HCL has many other

functions in the digestion of food and the maintenance of good

health: Nature did not give the stomach the ability to secrete

and concentrate one of the strongest acids known for nothing!

Needless to say, it would behoove each and every person to

learn the telltale signs of hypochloridia and how to correct

the problem using safe, natural methods.

WHO IT AFFECTS

While it does not affect every one of them, hypochloridia is

widely found among the elderly for, as the body ages, the

stomach, indeed the entire digestive tract, in general loses

its overall effectiveness and secretes less and less acid.

This under secretion of HCL is matched by a corresponding

lowered secretion of digestive enzymes by the pancreas.

These two disturbing factors directly contribute to several

major problems that the elderly face including malnutrition.

Without proper digestion of food, the nutrients within it

cannot be properly utilized by the body. One should not get

the impression that hypochloridia only affects the elderly,

however, as the condition has been found in people of all ages,

including children.

THE TELLTALE SIGNS

According to , M.D., and author of the

best-selling Dr. 's Guide to Healing with Nutrition

(Keats Publishing; 1984) the telltale signs of hypochloridia

are:

(1) bloating, belching, or burning immediately after meals;

(2) a feeling that one is full after eating only a small

amount of food;

(3) a feeling that food just eaten is " sitting " or " staying "

in the stomach and not being digested;

(4) lackluster hair;

(5) hair loss;

(6) papery thin fingernails; and

(7) dilation of capillaries on the cheeks and/or nose in a

nonalcoholic.

It should be remembered that these signs do not always appear

in an afflicted person and that one may not have all of the

signs present either.

The fact that burning and " heavy " feelings in the stomach after

eating are hypochloridic symptoms could mislead many people

into thinking that they have " acid indigestion " and that they

need to take an antacid preparation. While hyperacidity, or

too much acid, is a possibility (as is a peptic ulcer), it is

a remote one and taking an antacid is probably the worst thing

to do! If the ultimate cause of the burning sensation is a low

HCL level, ingesting a substance which alkalizes the stomach,

which reduces stomach acid more, will only hinder proper

digestion even more and may, ultimately, lead to an even

greater burning sensation. On top of this, most people do not

realize that the stomach is supposed to have acid in it; taking

an antacid simply cues the stomach to manufacture more HCL to

reverse the sudden alkaline environment. So, in the end,

antacids are really not a solution and, since they ultimately

prompt the stomach to make more HCL, defeat their own purpose.

AILMENTS

There are several adverse health conditions that are either

directly caused or aggravated by hypochloridia again

emphasizing the need to correct the condition:

(1) Poor mineral absorption, especially of iron and calcium,

which can lead to or aggravate osteoporosis, osteomalacia,

anemia, and general debility as minerals are greatly needed by

the body.

(2) Intestinal parasites which can severely damage the body due

to their interference with bodily functions. The HCL in the

stomach is your first line of defense against various foreign

" critters " including parasites and their eggs and various

bacteria. With an insufficient amount of HCL, however, one is

more susceptible to parasitic infestation and debilitating

bacterial conditions like giardia and amebic dysentery.

(3) Vitamin B12 deficiency which can result in pernicious

anemia, a potentially life threatening condition if not

corrected, and certain types of senility as vitamin B12 is

greatly involved in the nervous system. Vitamin B12 requires

HCL and a substance known as " intrinsic factor " for proper

absorption. Both of these are only found in the stomach hence

the need for HCL in preventing this vitamin's deficiency.

(4) Candidiasis, or a systemic yeast infection, is also a

possibility and, in some instances, a direct cause of low HCL.

While traditional allopathic medicine regards candidiasis as a

localized fungal infection, natural and alternative therapists

have long known that the condition is systemic and that

external manifestations are merely reflections of an internal

overgrowth of candida albicans, a yeast which resides in the

intestines. Candida colonies have been found in the stomachs

of hypochloridics as an alkaline environment favors candida

growth while an acidic one inhibits it. Yeast overgrowth

usually occurs after prolonged antibiotic or oral contraceptive

use which unfavorably alters the body's chemistry and ratio of

" good " intestinal bacteria, acidophilus and bifido, to candida

yeast. Without sufficient bacteria to check candida's growth,

candida can multiply freely and interfere with digestion to a

point where malabsorption of nutrients occurs due to

interference with pancreatic and stomach secretions. Candida

overgrowth can also lead to a number of other symptoms such as

depression, hypoglycemia, mood swings, and allergies among many

others.

(5) Poor protein digestion which can result in protein

deficiency. While the pancreas assists in the job, the stomach

is the main site for protein digestion by HCL, the enzyme

pepsin, and the peristaltic motion of the stomach itself.

If proteins are not broken down sufficiently in the stomach,

they either pass out of the body in the feces or are " force

absorbed " in the small intestines. These " macromolecules " can

generate allergic responses from the immune system. Some

researchers believe that food allergies contribute to the

occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis. Needless to say, poor

protein digestion can lead to protein deficiency which hinders

immunity, slows wound healing and tissue repair, and can lead

to loss of lean muscle mass as the body must get its protein

from somewhere in order to function. If it does not get it

from food, it will begin to break down its own tissues

essentially feeding off of itself.

Other conditions associated with hypochloridia are diabetes

mellitus, hypo and hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis,

lupus, hives (due to allergic reactions to undigested food),

vitiligo, childhood asthma, and weakened adrenals leading to

poor stress response. As we all know, stress is a major factor

in contributing to ill health. While these conditions are

associated with low HCL levels, one should remember that these

ailments can also have other causes not related to

hypochloridia and, if present, one should consult one's health

care professional for proper determination of the cause.

DETERMINING & CORRECTING IT

Besides the physical signs mentioned before, there exist a

couple of ways to determine if hypochloridia is present.

These tests can be carried out by your health care practitioner

if you suspect the condition. The first is a hair mineral

analysis with a search for deficient minerals. As stated

before, low HCL hinders mineral absorption by the body and hair

analysis measures the amounts of minerals, both macro and

trace, in the body. If 5 or more minerals are deficient, HCL

is likely to be low. Another test involves a chemical analysis

of one's stool with a search for undigested proteins. The most

reliable method, however, is through a process called

radiotelemetry employing the use of a Heidelberg capsule. In

this test the capsule, really a radio transmitter, is swallowed

and, when it arrives in the stomach, it sends back information

about the stomach's pH. This allows the practitioner to assess

your situation and needs.

Correcting hypochloridia is a relatively simple matter as a

number of options are available. Let's look at them, and their

attendant risks, now.

HCL Supplements: Readily available at health food stores and

some pharmacies, HCL tablets can easily supply a deficient

stomach with what it needs but caution is needed. Too much

supplementation can cause an ulcer so one must pay close

attention to the dosage. HCL supplements are not to be used

if a peptic ulcer is present. Nor are they to be used in

combination with certain drugs which are hard on the stomach,

e.g., aspirin. If one's HCL needs are small, one can usually

get by with combination digestive enzyme/HCL supplement as they

usually contain a relatively low amount of HCL. Your other

options are to experiment with them until you find an amount

that works best for you (proceed with caution!) or have your

health care professional do some tests to determine what amount

of HCL is needed by your body.

Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar: Simply taking 1 tablespoon

of either of these acidic substances just before eating (dilute

with a little water) is often enough to correct the problem.

Besides the taste, there are no risks with this method.

Bitter herbs: The bitter herbs have long been used to rectify

poor digestion for the chemical principles in these herbs

stimulate gastric and bile secretions quite effectively.

Good choices would be German chamomile (avoid if allergic to

ragweed), chicory, peppermint, angelica, yarrow, goldenseal,

and wormwood (avoid these last two if pregnant and do not

overuse them). These herbs may be drunk as teas about 15

minutes before eating or taken as tinctures (10-15 drops) in a

little water. Bear in mind, however, that several of these

herbs are extremely bitter tasting, e.g., wormwood, so

tinctures are advisable.

Final considerations to optimize digestion would be (A) to not

take any liquids with meals or within an hour after eating

(except to lightly wet the mouth) as liquids only dilute the

stomach's acid more and ( to pay attention to proper food

combining. While whole books have been written on food

combining, the basic rules to follow for peak digestion are

simple and straightforward: always eat your carbohydrates and

starches after you've eaten your proteins. In other words,

always eat your proteins first in your meal, starches second,

and vegetables, including salad, with both of these. Consuming

carbohydrates first, followed by proteins, loads the stomach up

with food that does not require HCL for digestion and makes it

harder on the stomach to digest proteins as it has to play

" catch up " with its HCL and pepsin secretions. Fruits are best

eaten between meals.

GOOD DIGESTION = GOOD HEALTH

It is a basic principle of naturopathy that good health

revolves around the digestive system for, without proper

utilization of nutrients from wholesome food, good health

cannot occur. Making sure to maximize its digestion by

taking care to maintain stomach acidity, thereby insuring

good protein and mineral absorption, is the best preventive

health care that each of us can take. The old adage is

right on target: we ARE what we EAT.

SOURCES: Dr. 's Guide to Healing with Nutrition by J.

, M.D., (Keats Publishing; 1984); How to Get Well

Prescription for Nutritional Healing by and Phyllis Balch

(Avery Publishing; 1996). " Correcting Hypochloridia, " first

appeared in Vitality Magazine, September 1997.

Copyright 1997 by Byrnes. All rights reserved.

© Copyright Power Health 2000,