The stomach is an acidic environment because of its hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is essential to the digestive process. Gastrointestinal and digestive problems occur when hypochlorhydria -- the condition of having too little hydrochloric acid -- develops. Hypochlorhydria can develop for a variety of reasons, including medication interactions, illness and even normal aging, according to "Gastrointestinal Nursing." If your doctor has diagnosed you with hypochlorhydria there are some steps you can take to increase the acidity of your stomach.
Step 1
Take a vitamin C supplement with each meal. This acidic vitamin is water soluble and therefore extremely difficult to overdose on, thus making it a generally safe vitamin to use to increase the acidity of the stomach. Incorporating foods rich in vitamin C into your diet, including apples, oranges, kiwis, strawberries, cauliflower and cabbage, is also beneficial when increasing stomach acid.
Step 2
Incorporate vinegar into your diet. Vinegar is highly acidic and easily worked into a variety of dishes and dressing. Simply choosing olive oil and vinegar to dress your salad can increase the acidity of your stomach.
Step 3
Consume fermented foods, which stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid. Sauerkraut, pickles and olives are examples of fermented food choices that can be worked into the diet. For example, you could top your sandwich with sauerkraut and eat it with a pickle spear on the side.
Things You'll Need
- Vitamin C supplement
- Vinegar
References
- "Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy"; Staci Nix; 2005
- "Gastrointestinal Nursing"; Graeme Smith and Roger Watson; 2005
- "Foundations of Nursing"; Lois White, Gena Duncan and Wendy Baumle; 2010
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