Stomach acid plays an important role in the digestive process, but some people produce an insufficient amount of stomach acid. Hypochlorhydria is the medical term for a reduced amount of stomach acid, while achlorhydria refers to a complete lack...
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...
Probably the most important thing to know about low stomach acid is that it often causes the same symptoms as having too much acid. Playing detective to figure this out can be quite a challenge, especially when the patient is a child. In fact,...
Digestive enzymes are dietary supplements used in the treatment of hypochlorhydria and achlorhydria. These conditions are marked by an abnormally low level of stomach acids or complete lack of stomach acids, respectively. In either situation, the...
Sensitivity to gluten can cause a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms. Low stomach acid, a condition known as hypochlorhydria, can also result in digestive upset. The two disorders are not necessarily related, although they share common...
If your stomach doesn't produce enough acid to allow for proper digestion, you may have a condition called hypochlorhydria. Inadquate stomach acid production may lead to nutritional deficits, belching, heartburn, stomach discomfort and bloating....
Our bodies continually undergo change as we age. Unfortunately, these changes can cause our bodies to function less efficiently. The elderly population is often at risk for the development of hypochlorhydria, or low gastric acid production. This...
The stomach secretes juices including hydrochloric acid (HCL) and an enzyme called pepsin. The acid kills bacteria that cause illness and provides an environment that allows pepsin to digest protein. This acid would destroy the lining of the...
Low stomach acid, also known as hypochlorhydria, may stem from a medical condition or as a side effect of medications or surgery. You may experience bouts of both constipation and diarrhea, as well as have the urge to eat, even when you are not...
Nexium, a brand name for the proton-pump inhibitor esomeprazole, reduces the secretion of gastric acid in the stomach. Nexium is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, or other conditions involving excess gastric acid. Gastric...
Numerous health problems are associated with low blood calcium levels. According to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, calcium which helps build strong bones and teeth, is important for heart function and assists with...
Betaine hydrochloride, or betaine HCl, is a crystalline alcohol derived from beets. It can be used as a supplement to increase stomach acid. Mostly found in pill form at health food stores, there is little scientific evidence that betaine HCl...
Many women question the safety of supplements, such as betaine hydrochloride, during pregnancy. Betaine hydrochloride, or betaine HCl, is also known as stomach acid or hydrochloric acid, which is essential for proper digestion. Although...
Acid reflux, sometimes referred to as gastroesophageal reflux, is a condition that occurs when a combination of food and digestive acids from your stomach passes upward into your esophagus, which connects your mouth and stomach. There are several...
Your stomach secretes a number of acids to help break down the food you eat into nutrients your body can use. The most prevalent acid in your stomach is hydrochloric acid. The lack of hydrochloric acid in significant amounts in your stomach is a...
When you have low or no production of stomach acid you may have a condition called hypochlorhydria. For normal digestion to occur effectively you need to produce plenty of hydrochloric acid through your stomach lining. Hydrochloric acid -- HCL --...
The digestive process breaks complex molecules from food into simpler forms for absorption and use. This produces glucose, amino acids, glycerol and fatty acids. Hydrochloric acid is paramount to digestion. Betaine hydrochloride is the most common...
Stomach acid is responsible for breaking up the foods you eat, enabling your body to obtain needed nutrients. While stomach acid production plays an important role in the functioning of the digestive system, too much or too little acid can cause...
Your stomach secretes a variety of fluids that aid in digestion, including stomach acid. Stomach acid is composed primarily of hydrochloric acid, making the stomach a very acidic environment with a pH of 1 to 2. The body closely regulates the...
Hydrochloric acid is naturally located in the stomach. Its responsibility is to break down proteins you eat into smaller particles so that your intestines can absorb them. The Women to Women Clinic states that if your hydrochloric acid is too low,...
Vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, is used as a home remedy for many health problems, including digestive upset. This is especially the case if low stomach acid is believed to be at the heart of the problem. Even so, talk to a doctor before...
If you have trouble digesting your food properly, try adjusting your dietary fiber intake, eating smaller meals and avoiding difficult to digest foods. Doing so will make it easier for you to digest your food, which can prevent stomach problems...
The B vitamin, B12, is found in a variety of foods, such as, fish, shellfish, meat, and dairy products. This vitamin helps our bodies maintain the production of healthy nerve cells and red blood cells, and is used in forming our cell DNA,...
The gastric juices within your stomach are primarily composed of hydrochloric acid. Gastric juices serve a variety of functions, including digestion. The amount of acid in your stomach may be altered by certain foods, medications or diseases....
Vitiligo is a genetic, autoimmune skin disorder in which a loss of skin pigmentation results in white patches on various parts of the body. Current treatments are aimed at stopping or slowing the progression of lost pigment. Manipulating one's...
If you experience iron deficiency, the problem may not be an improper diet. An iron deficiency can relate to how well your body absorbs iron. Malabsorption of iron should be treated with a variety of remedies, and some may cause stomach problems....
Hypochlorhydria is the medical term used to describe an abnormally low level of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This condition can be the result of a variety of diseases. It can be caused by an autoimmune disease that attacks the stomach cells...
Betaine HCl, or Betaine hydrochloride, is a chemical product used as a source hydrochloride, which is the acid produced by the stomach. Hydrochloride produced by the cells of the stomach breaks down fats and proteins in food and protects the body...
The lining of the stomach is uniquely designed to withstand the extremely acidic liquids released by the stomach cells to break down and digest food. The main component of stomach fluid is hydrochloric acid, chemically abbreviated as HCl. Stomach...
