From Health e-Tips Too Little Of A Good Thing (4/11 & 4/12)

Q: I've been having stomach problems, and my doctor wants to put me on a prescription to suppress acid production. But don't our bodies need stomach acid? I mean, it's there for a reason, right?

Dr. Jonathon Wright:
You're absolutely right. The main causes of poor digestion and assimilation are age-related gastric hypochlorhydria (more commonly referred to as low stomach acid) and age-related gastric achlorhydria (which is no stomach acid at all). Like it or not, the older you get, the more likely you are to develop these problems. Unfortunately, doctors rarely recognize the seriousness of this problem and treat the underlying cause. Instead, many doctors today are only making the problem worse by putting people on patent medications specifically designed to suppress stomach acid production. Low stomach acid levels lead to alterations in your intestinal microflora. Friendly intestinal microorganisms are dependent on the natural intestinal pH balance that results when all digestive organs are working well. When the major source of intestinal acidity (the stomach) fails or when it's suppressed by patent medications, intestinal contents become too alkaline, allowing unfriendly microorganisms to enter the scene, including Candida albicans (yeast) and many others.

The Root Of All Illness- some of the numerous conditions linked to (and made worse by) low stomach acid:

Acne rosacea, physical signs of aging (especially in people 60 and older), allergies, alcoholism, celiac disease, childhood asthma, hepatitis, hives, depression, dermatomyositis, diabetes (Type 1), eczema, gallbladder disease, Graves' disease, lupus, macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, osteoporosis, pernicious anemia, polymyalgia rheumatica, Raynaud's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and vitiligo.

And there are probably many more. Of course, poor stomach function isn't the sole or even the major cause of each of these diseases. But taking the appropriate steps to eliminate hypochlorhydria (insufficient stomach acid production) and, in the process, restoring optimal nutrient flow usually makes a significant improvement, no matter what the problem.

Low stomach acid has been linked to hip fractures, pneumonia, macular degeneration, and more. The increased risk of infection that goes along with low gastric acidity isn't limited to the intestinal tract, though. Other studies have shown that when patent medications suppress stomach acid, many seemingly unrelated parts of the body are affected. And it makes sense when you think about it since individual nutrients are vital for maintaining all sorts of body functions.

You should work with your doctor to monitor your stomach acid. If you do have age-related gastric hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria -- and we all develop one or the other sooner or later -- the problem is fairly easy to treat. Talk to your doctor about taking hydrochloric acid and pepsin capsules to improve your digestion and balance the pH of your gastrointestinal system. Although it's not as common, poor digestion and/or absorption can also be caused by low levels of pancreatic enzymes and by hidden gluten/gliadin sensitivity. So your doctor should check those levels as well.  

We Test Your Stomach Acid And More In Minutes...

---

Disclaimer

Tanning & Natural Health News is a publication of Tan Plus /Essentials Of Life, Barclay Square, 350 Route 108, Somersworth, NH. This publication is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be presented as medical advice. Product statements made have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration.