Stomach Acid and Why You Need It!

Something a bit different this month!  I am giving to you information on stomach acid and it’s benefits as well as a mini book review on the book “Why Stomach Acid is Good for You” by Jonathan V. Wright M.D.  This book is not expensive new at $14.99 ($8.49 for the Kindle version) but you can buy it used from $1.93 – $8.95 on Amazon!  I receive no money for recommending this book or from the link below.
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Stomach-Acid-Good-You/dp/0871319314
 
100% of my clients have had low stomach acid. Stomach acid is vital to all aspects of our digestion and health.  Too many Doctors are prescribing antacids that reduce our acid further, leaving us prone to autoimmune disease, illness, allergies, asthma, and cancer as well as not being able to properly digest our foods and absorb the nutrients from the foods.

Stomach acid begins secreting from millions of tiny gastric glands located in the mucosal lining of the stomach as soon as the sight, smell or thought of food has begun.  It secretes even more acid once the bolus of food enters the stomach from the esophagus.  A bolus is formed when chewing foods, a small round ball of broken up food moistened by the saliva rests on the center of the tongue, allowing it to be swallowed down the esophagus and into the stomach..
 
This bolus triggers the stomach lining to stretch a bit, that stretching is sensed by nerve fibers that tell G cells to begin secreting gastrin, the gastrin tells the parietal cells to make more stomach acid (HCI), it also tells the ECL cells to make histamine which then tell the parietal cells to make even more acid. 
 
The parietal cells also release the intrinsic factor, a substance needed for the absorption of vitamin B12.  The parietal cells trigger the release of pepsinogens, that if there is enough stomach acid, will convert to pepsins that break down proteins into amino acids.  The gastrin also tells the stomach muscles to contract and churn the bolus into a paste called chyme. 
 
This acidified chyme then enters the duodenum (the small intestine) and contacts the lining of the duodenum, which tells it to release secretin.  Secretin then tells the pancreas to make a variety of digestive enzymes, including ions of bicarbonate. 
 
At the same time secretin is made, the hormone Cholecystokinin (CCK) is released in the small intestine.  The CCK heads down to the gallbladder where it releases bile.

Each step of the way, triggered by stomach acid.

When there is not enough stomach acid (hypochlorhydria), crucial functions of digestion do not happen. Blocking or neutralizing stomach acid with acid blockers, interrupts the digestive progression at a crucial point, by removing that acid trigger that makes almost every other event in the sequence of digestion possible.  Reduction of acid means a reduction in pepsinogen, reduced pepsin, reduced secretin, reduced CCK, reduced pancreatic enzymes and bile.

With less acid to reduce gastrin, the gastrin levels skyrocket, which has been linked to gastric cancer.

A reduction in acid also means less proteins, vitamins and minerals are absorbed to be used.
 
Even if we eat a diet of nutrient rich foods and all the right macro and micronutrients, if we do not have enough stomach acid to absorb these nutrients, we are left deficient in them.

“Whether hypochlorhydria causes food allergies or food allergies cause hypochlorhydria or food allergies cause hypochlorhydria is a chicken-and-egg issue.  No matter which one sets off the process, a vicious circle soon ensues, in which an allergic reaction to food inflames the gastric and intestinal linings, inhibiting HCI secretion and promoting allergic reactions all over the body, not just to foods, but to inhalants, and microorganisms, as well.”  (Why Stomach Acid is Good for You, Wright, Lenard 2001)

Once you have inflamed gastric and intestinal linings, parietal cells die and stomach acid decreases.  Allergenic proteins that are not digested or only partially digested and reach the bowels also trigger inflammatory responses. The damage that results from this inflammation, is holes in the digestive lining.  When this “leaky gut” occurs, you are now no longer protected from undigested proteins, viruses, bacteria, fungi and anything else that came down the esophagus, allowing these to enter into general circulation, instead of protecting you by remaining in the bowels. 

​In some people, that first allergic reaction triggers the immune system to turn the attack on their body itself.  Depending which part of the body is attacked, is what autoimmune disease they end up having.  If it attacks the thyroid, they may end up with Hashimotos or Graves’ disease, if it attacks the joints, they have Rheumatoid arthritis, if it attacks the connective tissue, they have Lupus, if it attacks the GI tract, they have Inflammatory Bowel Disease, skin and connective tissue results in Scleroderma and so on.  Once you have one autoimmune disease, it is very common to end up with others.

There appears to be a connection between low stomach acid, the resulting low B12 levels and allergic reactions that result in asthma as well.

The biggest factor in having Leaky Gut, is low stomach acid.  Not enough stomach acid prevents proper digestion of proteins, allows bacterial overgrowth which together cause Leaky Gut.
 
Stomach acid is vital to all aspects of our digestion and health.  Low stomach acid leaves us prone to autoimmune disease, illness, allergies, asthma and cancer as well as not being able to properly digest our foods and absorb the nutrients from the foods.
 
Although I knew that low stomach acid contributed to malabsorption of nutrients and leaky gut, I did not know that it contributed to autoimmune disease, allergies, food sensitivities and asthma when I first began my journey to wellness.  All of which run in my family.  What have you learned that could benefit your health and your family’s health?!

This was a well written book, easy to follow and understand.  I enjoyed the patient stories dispersed throughout as well, making it feel a bit more personal and I hope you read it and enjoy what you learn too!