Hypochlorhydria what? Hypochlorhydria is the medical term for a low level of stomach acid.
Stomach acid helps us out by breaking down our food to absorbable forms, killing off unwanted bacteria and other pathogens in the stomach and signaling the rest of the gut to get ready to do its job! So many of my clients come to me thinking they are suffering from HIGH stomach acid when in fact the body is trying to compensate for LOW stomach acid and is therefore acting up and being cranky. Many of these individuals have also been treated for years with PPI’s (proton pump inhibitors) to turn off acid in the gut due to GERD or chronic heartburn and are now experiencing worsening symptoms of low stomach acid.
Here are some of the symptoms of low stomach acid:
- Nausea
- Gas / Bloating
- Diarrhea or Constipation
- Hair loss and / or brittle nails
- Upset Stomach
- Skin issues
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Acid reflux
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Heartburn
