Low stomach acid?

[Minimouse1]

Could I pls ask about low stomach acid, and how do people generally know they have this? I feel like my food is just laying in my stomach undigested a lot of the time.

I've read of people taking Apple cider vinegar, but how much are they taking & are they adding it to food or drinking it?

[MaisieGray]

Symptoms of low stomach acid can include bloating, burping, diarrhoea, gas, heartburn, intestinal infections, nausea taking supplements, nutritional deficiencies, including zinc, iron & vit B-12, undigested food in the stool, IBS-type issues.

You can do the "burp test", because baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) create a chemical reaction in the stomach, the result of this reaction being carbon dioxide gas, which causes burping. So a burp within three minutes of drinking a baking soda/water solution may indicate an adequate level of stomach acid, whilst a burp after three minutes (or not at all) may indicate a low level of stomach acid. As there are many variables to control, it's advised to take the test as soon as you wake up in the morning and for at least three (ideally five) consecutive mornings to get the most accurate data possible:

1. First thing in the morning (before eating or drinking), mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4 ounces of cold water.

2. Drink the baking soda solution.

3. Use a timer to see how long it takes you to burp.

4. If you have not burped within five minutes, stop timing.

If it seems you are low in acid you can take a betaine with pepsin product - betaine hydrochloride is a compound that helps digestion by releasing hydrochloric acid, ie stomach acid, and pepsin is an enzyme that breaks down proteins. There's lots of Betaine HCL with Pepsin products if you go on line.

[Goldengirl01 in reply to MaisieGray]

Thanks MaisieGray.