Hydrochloric Acid: The Body’s Primary Digestant
Are you feeling as if you’re not able to digest the foods you used to love, even indulge in? There’s a reason! The body’s primary digestant and disinfectant is Hydrochloric Acid (HCl). Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) is produced by the stomach and has the job of breaking down proteins. If you make plenty of HCl, then the body can adequately digest protein. If not, protein digestion is compromised. Low HCl signals the beginning of all digestive problems that plague modern man.
When you are young and the stomach is functioning as it should, you produce 3 to 4 quarts of HCl every day. That’s why you used to be able to eat what you wanted without any problems or repercussions. Humans were engineered for raw food which takes very little HCl and enzymes to digest. The problem is that we primarily eat cooked food which is difficult to digest. Over time, constantly eating cooked food taxes our ability to make adequate HCl. Proteins are only partially digested and food begins to sit in the stomach longer than it should. As opposed to being digested, the food is rotting and forming gas.
When food rots in the stomach, it forms lactic acid. Lactic acid burns and inflames the stomach. If the stomach is in poor shape and the esophageal sphincter weakens over time, the lactic acid can rise up into the lower esophagus and cause what is known as heartburn. This painful condition compels the sufferer to reach for quick relief such as Pepcid AC, Nexium or Prevacid. Just remember, you’re not suffering because you made too much HCl. You’re suffering because food is rotting in the stomach due to poor HCl production.
These compounds alkalize the stomach contents causing the stomach to reflexively open the pyloric valve and drop the undigested, alkaline stomach contents into the small intestine. Not only are the proteins not broken down, but the food has not been sterilized. Remember, HCl is your body’s primary disinfectant. HCl drenches the stomach contents in an acid bath which kills all harmful bacteria in the food. Now you’ve got undigested, bacteria-laden and highly alkaline food sitting in the small intestine. All kinds of digestive problems result from this situation.
Let’s look at supporting the stomach and making sure these problems don’t occur. Remember, as goes the stomach, so goes you. First, try to put more raw food into your diet. Most of us can handle veggies, so add more of them to the menu. Stay away from the glutenous grains like wheat, barley, rye and oats. They are very hard to digest and contain gluten, which is a known allergen and irritant. Try to avoid pasteurized milk and other dairy products. They are not only toxic, but difficult to digest and form mucus in the digestive tract. Almond milk works well as a substitute. If you must have dairy, make sure it is in the form of an aged cheese or kefir. There are lots of food items on the “easy to digest” menu. Do some research and learn yourself what is out there. Most importantly, make the changes necessary for good digestion. A poorly functioning digestive system paves the way for all the bad things to happen to the body. It’s much easier to break down the body than it is to build it back up.
Finally, look at taking a few digestive enzyme capsules about 20 minutes before each meal. Using them will help ease the burden on your stomach and pancreas. Take 2 to 4 capsules of HCl following each meal. This is a powerful and inexpensive way to support good digestion. There are also some great “all in one” digestive formulations out there to choose from. These contain both HCl and digestive enzymes in the same formula. I can tell you that Peoples has the best selection of digestive support solutions on the market. You also can get some good advice from the folks working the floor when you come in. If your problems are of an advanced nature, we have practitioners for you to work with. No matter how you go about it, achieving proper digestion should be your first priority.
by Ken Morgan
Image courtesy of dream designs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
You say “Stay away from the glutenous grains like wheat, barley, rye and oats.” Oats don’t contain gluten.
Hi Jon! Apparently oats and wheat have been grown in the same fields and rotated with each other a fair bit so “oats” are allowed to have a certain percentage of the grain actually be wheat, rye or barley. If they’re certified gluten-free oats then the grain is grown in dedicated fields and tested for cross-contamination. So technically you are correct, oats by themselves are not gluten grains.
Just to double check I found this article from the University of Chicago Celiac Disease center that confirms this information and says that less than 1% of patients with Celiac disease react poorly to large quantities of oats in their diet, and they theorize that this could actually be because of the large amount of fiber.
Thanks for reading!
Dr. Amy Neuzil, ND*
I have some mild symptoms related to stomach acid and was advised to take prescription medication, but I’ve resisted doing so, reasoning that the HCl in my stomach was necessary and shouldn’t be tampered with. After reading your article I’ve decided to resist even harder. I live in the Philippines, where antibiotics are OTC. My dentist writes pain medication prescriptions, but I discard them. There is too much self-medication, in my opinion.
I know that there is damage to the valve on top of my stomach, as revealed by a camera being put down my throat. That procedure, conducted in the US, is a story in itself. In the waiting area before the procedure, the nurse left open the door to the operating room, so I could hear the moaning and groaning. I asked the nurse to close the door, and she did They wanted to knock me out with a needle in my arm and I refused. Finally they just numbed that back of my throat with a spray bottle and went on with the procedure. Afterwards they told me that I behaved better than the patients who had been knocked out.
I found your article in the first place by googling “where does my body get the Cl to make HCl?”. I asked the doctor who wants to place me on medication that question, but she didn’t know. My guess is that NaCl is the source, and severely restricting salt intake is a problem. So, after the HCl is neutralized upon leaving the stomach, are the raw materials recycled to make new HCl?
I get my oatmeal from Australia and I asked them if it’s gluten free. No reply yet.
Thank you for your article, Jon
Hi Jon – Thanks for reading! Chloride is an essential trace mineral in the human body and the primary source is, in fact, salt. Table salt or even better sea salt can provide more than enough chloride and all of the plant-based foods you eat will have some naturally occurring chloride as well. The chloride from stomach acid does get partially recycled by the body, but some is lost in the metabolic process. It is extremely rare, even for a person on a salt restricted diet, to have any kind of a deficiency because levels are so tightly regulated in the human body. There is some great additional information about chloride here. – Dr. Amy Neuzil, ND*
hi everyone my name is ladasjah willis and i would love to know what does HCI means and where is it found in our body
Is omeprazole a digestive enzyme?
I have always had a prob with digestion since kid. Constipation has plagued me for years since 13 yesrs old. In 2013 on my 69th birthday i had emergency colon surgery for an obstruction sepsis and eschemia. Sinc then i have a protein/carb diet. Cannot eat fruit and vegetables. Gives me diarrhea. I got cdiff in hospital and still on antibiotics monthly. No FMT infusion in sight due to cost and no trial available to me. My absorbtion is very poor. I am sick all the time. I cant afford all the things that are offered online and at healthfood stores. What do i do. I know my HCi is low cause of indigestion while eating. Suggestions please.
I have had diarrhea due to PTSD since 1991. I have dealt with many of the causes of the PTSD. But sadly, the diahrreah had remained. I take upwards to 6plus tablespoons of fiber daily.
Have you any suggestions? I’m not sure I fit the HCI profile.
I have lupus and have read that I should add HCl to my diet. But your article says – it is extremely rare, even for a person on the salt restricted diet to have any kind of deficiency because levels are so tightly regulated in the human body. So now What? Thanks
I live in Kingsland,Tx. I have type 2 diabetes.taking medicine for Guard. Taking 35billion Probiotics. Also have diverticulitis and colitis , not bad, but bad enough for diarrhea sometimes bad. Usually after breakfast or meal, about one hour after breakfast. Go normally once, then later it total liquid and some cramps. I had endoscopy and colonoscopy in February. I need advise. Just moved and going get appt with gastrointestinal doctor here at Baylor SW Specialty Clinic in Marble Falls.
Is it true that after radiation,Hydrochloric Acid is gone for life?