Ashley Burkman, ND
SELF The Importance of Stomach Acid S
tomach ache? Heartburn? Indigestion and Bloating? Ever considered reaching for an anti-acid medication to soothe
the pain? With so many over the counter and prescription medications aimed at neutraliz- ing acid in the stomach to help relieve your discomfort, who hasn’t tried a few of them? The truth is, while this may be a quick fix for your stomach troubles, what should really be investigated are the causes of what could be ailing your digestive system.
Acid is the key ingredient for digestion of food, nutrient absorption and even pre- vention of infections. Specialized cells in the stomach lining called parietal cells secrete hydrochloric acid to keep the stomach at a low pH around 2, the appropriate range for digestion. The stomach has the ability to maintain this acidic environment without becoming digested itself through its many layers of mucous and neutralizing solutions which act to protect the stomach. The stom- ach is the only organ with the ability to han- dle such a tumultuous acidic environment. When acid from the stomach washes up to the esophagus, for example, this not only creates discomfort but can create permanent damage to the tissue. How do we keep acid in the stomach in appropriate amounts? The following will help navigate the function of stomach acid and ways to keep a healthy amount in your stomach.
Digestion
When stomach acid production is com- promised, food can sit longer that it should in the stomach. This can create symptoms of nausea, bloating and heartburn. Not only is this uncomfortable, it is a sign of improper digestion. Instead of suppressing these symp- toms when they arise, it is better to look at the cause, which potentially could be an underlying issue with low stomach acid.
Fights Infection
Bacteria and viruses come into the body through the food we eat. Cooking food helps to reduce the number of microorganisms
coming into the stomach; however, this is not enough! Some bacteria survive even when heated to a high temperature and some foods we eat are not cooked prior to eating. This means we need a line of defense to protect us from succumbing to illness every time we eat. When the appropriate amount of acid is in the stomach, the major- ity of harmful bacteria are removed.
Absorption of Vitamins & Minerals
Bone supporting minerals like calcium and magnesium need the assistance of stom- ach acid to be absorbed. Therefore, long term stomach acid reduction can create a greater risk of reduced bone density. Vitamin B12, is a water soluble vitamin
that plays several roles in the body including nervous system protection, cardiovascular health, energy and DNA repair. The stomach pH needs to be acidic for Vitamin B12 to be- come bound and eventually absorbed.
Symptoms of Low Stomach Acid
• Indigestion • Bloating or gas • Nausea • Heartburn
• Undigested food found in the stool • Brittle fingernails and hair • Bad breath • Irritable Bowel Syndrome • Acne and other skin ailments • Chronic intestinal disorders • Low bone density
How Does Stomach Acid Become Depleted?
• Long term use of medications like acid blockers
• H. Pylori infections • Diet • Aging • Stress
Stomach acid blocking medications should have an expiration date. They should
www.NaturalNutmeg.com 31
not be used as long term treatment of indi- gestion symptoms. The underlying cause of symptoms should be investigated, including low stomach acid. H. pylori is a bacteria that can become resident in our stomach. Over 50% of the population have been or are currently infected with H. pylori. H. pylori is one of the main causes of stomach and duodenal (small intestine) ulcers. Stomach acid helps to eliminate and prevent bacteria from tak- ing residence in the stomach, including H. pylori. The way in which we eat can affect
our stomach acid. Drinking too many fluids with meals can dilute stomach acid, mak- ing it more difficult to properly digest food. Also, ensuring you are getting enough zinc in your diet, a mineral that is essential for stomach acid production found highest in pumpkin seeds.
As we age, naturally the stomach lining thins, reducing stomach acid secretion. This puts the elderly at a greater risk of becom- ing low in minerals and vitamins, especially those that support bone density. Stress reduction is important for a num- ber of reasons. Stress is a signal to the body to stop digestion and focus on getting out of danger. Chronic stress leads to low stomach acid production. Focus on making mealtime as serene as possible, fully relaxing to allow the digestive process to work properly. While there are tests that can be run to
assess stomach acid content in your stom- ach, it isn’t always necessary to test this prior to implementing lifestyle changes to improve levels of stomach acid.
Dr. Ashley Burkman is a board certified licensed naturopathic physician at Con- necticut Natural Health Specialists, LLC in Manchester, CT. She is in network work most insurance companies and is now tak- ing new patients. For appointments, please call (860)533-0179. See ad on page 29.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44