Remedies for low stomach acid

[ChickieBaker]

Hello.This is a follow up on a previous question. I did the baking soda test this morning to see if I had low stomach acid. I didn't belch at all so I guess that could suggest that I'm low !! I thought I would try some Betaine HCI with pepsin as that is quite often recommended.

I asked my naturopath to recommend one but she suggested that I eat more mindfully ( chewing my food slowly, eating at a table etc ) but I've tried that and it's made no difference. She then said we could try digestive bitters or enzymes but I've also tried many in the past.

Can anyone advice what I could do for low stomach acid ? I've tried ACV but can't get on with it. I'm tempted to try the betaine hcl maybe with some Yarrow bitters and see how I get on. I do usually follow my naturopath's advice but she's not the one who's suffering so the softly softly approach isn't appealing to me.

Thanking you in advance ☺️

[SlowDragon Administrator]

as your dose of levothyroxine is increased, stomach acid should improve

You only recently increased levothyroxine. Retest again in another 6-8 weeks

Likely to then be ready for next increase in dose levothyroxine

Are you gluten free and/or dairy free

And all four vitamins at optimal levels

[ChickieBaker in reply to SlowDragon]

I've been on 75mcg for 8 weeks now, due to do my Medichecks this Monday. Hopefully the doctor will increase when I see him in a week or so. I've been 100% gluten free for about 2 years now. I tried dairy free but it made no difference at all. I think my vitamins are optimal, I'd have to check back on my previous posts.

Do you not think it's worth trying the Betaine HCI with pepsin then ?

Thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ChickieBaker]

I have never tried Betaine HCL so I don’t have any personal experience

I bought some……but got dose increase instead and that did the trick

Plenty of members do use it

Posts that mention Betaine

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[heathermr]

You could try Apple cider vinegar capsules (with The Mother) which help with stomach acid. The capsules are better than the liquid as they don't rot your teeth.

[Singwell]

I have chronically low stomach acid due to my digestive vagus being tied at 19. Now I'm 67 you can imagine the crankiness of my system! I focus on a very varied diet - 30+ different plant foods a week. I'm not vegan, but with herbs, nuts, fruit and vegetables, tofu and legumes it's easy to get up to 30. Following advice here and from reading I do ensure I've a good protein intake. I also try daily to have one of the 5Ks - the probiotics - keffir, kombucha, kraut (sauerkraut) or kmchi. Probiotics encourage healthy gut bacteria to develope and this assists with food absorption.

This approach I picked up from various nutrition experts including the Zoe Project, headed by Dr Tim Spector. It works well for me and I rarely suffer. .

[humanbean]

A couple of links on low or absent stomach acid :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achlo...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK5...

I wrote a post with lots of links about stomach acid in this reply to another member :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[ChickieBaker in reply to humanbean]

Thanks for that, I'll read through it shortly. I'm thinking of trying the ACV with mother caps to start with and see how I get on but I'll read your suggested article first.

[WhyAmISoTired]

I tried taking betaine HCl but could not tolerate it even in tiny doses. I understand that I am in the minority on this. I have had sibo for decades so I'm guessing that's related. I am going to try and start out with bitters and see how I get on...

[ChickieBaker in reply to WhyAmISoTired]

Good luck with the bitters. My ACV capsules arrived today so I’m going to give them I try, I’ve tried everything else 🤣

Thanks.

[WhyAmISoTired in reply to ChickieBaker]

Please let me know how it goes, haven't tried those yet!

[ChickieBaker in reply to WhyAmISoTired]

Will do ☺️

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

I’m a betaine with pepsin advocate, works brilliantly for me, doesn’t seem to matter which one. As my levels have improved I use it less and less. Some come with digestive enzymes, some not. I would advise starting simple and trying it out.

I did the Izabella Wentz recommendation during a meal of having one tablet after another until I actually felt acid in my throat, it took 5 tablets!!! So according to her my dose was 4. I’m now down to 1 if we have a protein heavy meal and not more than twice a week.

I also hide ACV in a green smoothie a few times a week.

🌱