IMPORTANCE OF STOMACH ACID
1. It (prevents acid reflux and) helps kill pathogens, such as E. coli and H. pylori.
2. It converts minerals into absorbable salts.
3. It works with the digestive enzyme, pepsin, to break down proteins into absorbable amino acids.
4. It helps absorption of vitamins, such as B6, B12 and folate in particular, thus helping prevent deficiencies.
5. It helps conversion of silica to absorbable orthosilicic acid {faster than water does}, for the formation of collagen, elastin, and chondroitin, which prevent osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, heart disease, emphysema, diverticulitis, wrinkles, cellulite etc.
6. It helps absorption of nutrients needed for the production of structural proteins, which includes silica, zinc, copper and amino acids.
7. It thus helps prevent rapid aging, caused by nutritional deficiencies.
AVOID ANTACIDS
Antacids reduce stomach acid, which interferes with digestion of nutrients, causing rapid aging. Avoid antacids, acid blockers {aka proton pump inhibitors}, alkaline waters, calcium carbonate (coral, oyster shell, dolomite), calcium oxide/hydroxide (lime), baking soda, and magnesium oxide/hydroxide.
DIY STOMACH ACID TEST
Mix ¼ teaspoon of baking soda with about a cup {4-6 ounces} of water and drink on an empty stomach (like first thing in the morning). Start a timer as soon as you drink the baking soda water. “If you have sufficient levels of stomach acid, the baking soda will be converted into carbon dioxide gas, which should cause belching about three minutes after drinking”.
If you don’t belch within five minutes, stop the timer. You may have low stomach acid.
https://yummyindiankitchen.com/
RESTORE STOMACH ACID
- https://www.curezone.org/forums/am.asp?i=1560195
TMG is the non-acidified form of betaine. The advantage {of TMG instead of betaine} is that TMG helps your body to generate its own stomach acid rather than substituting for it. Substituting for stomach acid production can lead to further reductions of stomach acid. TMG also helps with many other things that betaine HCl does not, such as building hormones and neurotransmitters, building cartilage, boosting the immune system, reducing homocycteine, etc. Recommended dose is 500-1000mg three times daily with meals.
Here are additional suggestions from another source.
She says to have a lot of celery juice before breakfast, then some lemon juice, then have light breakfast without much protein or fat, fast 12 hours or more each day, have proteins and fat at the midday meal and a light meal again for supper, and avoid coffee, either right away or by gradually reducing it. {A little vinegar with some meals can help too, by the way.}
She seems to have a lot of good videos on gut health etc for the past 5 years at https://www.youtube.com/@GutFeelings/videos.