This a 3-part series starting with 33 ways to tell if you have low stomach acid.

Low stomach acid is one of the SIBO causes. I believe my SIBO always returned due to low stomach acid. Problems don’t go away with drugs and medication unless we fix the underlying problem, and this is why I am such a huge believer in functional and preventative medicine. 

What is Low Stomach Acid?

Low stomach acid, also called hypochlorhydria, is when the body doesn’t produce enough in order to break down proteins into essential amino acids and nutrients the body needs. (By the way, there is also something known as achlorhydria, which is even lower stomach acid than hypochlorhydria.)

While studying at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I learned that HCL converts or activates pepsinogen to pepsin which digests proteins. HCL decreases as we age. Despite the fact that the drug industry tells us stomach acid is a bad thing, it is not, at least not always. In fact, stomach acid is needed in order to break food down. The amount of stomach acid we have decreases as we age, and so oftentimes people will go to their doctors, tell them they are experiencing acid reflux and they will be given an antacid and sent along their way. The antacid, of course, only reduces stomach acid even more, masking a problem and causing a harsh ripple effect.

But how do you know if you have low stomach acid? 

It’s can be fairly obvious.

33 Ways to Tell if You Have Low Stomach Acid

Click HERE to save these 33 ways to tell if you have low stomach acid!

1. Diarrhea
2. Gas
3. SIBO
4. Bloating
5. Acid Reflux
6. Leaky Gut Syndrome
7. Headaches
8. Low white blood cell count
9. Your body has a hard time digesting meat
10. Excessive burping
11. Heartburn and GERD
12. Nausea after eating
13. Undigested food in stools
14. Chronic Fatigue
15. Adrenal Fatigue
16. Allergies
17. Weight gain
18. Diabetes
19. Autoimmune diseases, in general
20. IBS
21. IBD
22. Reduced liver function
23. Candida
24. Hair loss
25. Iron deficiency
26. Chronic intestinal infections
27. Hypothyroid
28. Acne and eczema
29. Ulcers
30. Brittle nails
31. Malnutrition – because you aren’t absorbing essential nutrients
32. B12 deficiency
33. Gallstone risk

Beyond just symptoms, there is a way you can test on your own for low stomach acid. 

Want to read Part II and Part III? How to Test At Home for Low Stomach Acid HCL Challenge + 11 Ways to Naturally Improve Stomach Acid Production.

Ready to go on a FREE 21-day gut healing journey with me? Let’s go. Join HERE.

Xox,
SKH