Stomach acid plays many very important roles beyond digestion. Some of these very important roles include:
1. The first line of defense against infection
2. Stimulating the production of the stomach's protective lining
3. Stimulating the proper closure of the doorways between the stomach and the esophagus.
Popular belief states that people have too much acid in their stomach, actually they often have too little and cannot properly digest their food. In addition, this low stomach acid results in a number of conditions including: Heartburn/GERD, ulcers, food sensitivities, infection and nutrient deficiencies. So how do we know if there is enough acid in the stomach? Well, there is not a simple answer. The best test is to swallow an electronic capsule which monitors the acidity of the stomach. Unfortunately, this test is rarely done due to its cost and complexity. Generally, people rely on their symptoms as a means of assessing possible acid deficiency and then follow this assessment with a trial of betaine HCl supplementation. Seniors and people who have suffered with a lot of stress in their lives may be at risk of having low stomach acid.
The form of hydrochloric acid that is found in the stomach is the same that is in Betaine Hcl capsules. By taking stomach acid with each meal, you are adding the acid back to the stomach and allowing initial digestion to occur again. Here is how you test yourself.
Just before your next meal take one 500 mg capsule of betaine HCl . If you notice improved digestion then continue with this dose. If there is no feeling of warmth or irritation in the stomach and no improvement is noticed then increase the dose to two capsules before each meal on the following day. Again, look for improvements in your symptoms. If nothing is noticed and you feel no stomach warmth or irritation then proceed to increase the dose to 3 capsules before each main meal and then to four if needed. If you notice a warmth or irritation in the stomach then cut the dose back by one capsule and continue with this dose.
When you are trying this method, keep some Tums or other antacid on hand to neutralize some of the acid in case you overshoot your mark.
Once you find the dose that works well for you then you can continue to take the betaine HCl as long as needed. Some practitioners recommend stopping the acid after a couple of months to see if the stomach is able to begin producing more acid on its own. It is believed that betaine actually resets the pH thermostat within the stomach and once the betaine capsules are ceased then the body produces its own acid.
Author Resource:-
Dr. Ray Hinish is a licensed, natural-pharmacist & certified personal trainer. He is the author of the popular eBook, Strong Bones Forever as well as a contributor to numerous websites and blogs.
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