Betaine HCL

How does Betaine HCl normalize your system to start producing more acid if you have low stomach acid? You would think you would start to produce less because your stomach doesnt need as much if your supplementing it.

Interesting thought, would like to hear some input on this.

I posted about HCL in another thread.  I just started supplementing it myself, seems I've been low in stomach acid
for some time without knowing it.  Which led to uncomfortable symptoms, but I had no idea the gut was involved.
Now I can start getting my life back.
Good info here:
http://scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/how-to-supplement-with-betaine-hcl-for-low-stomach-acid/

Digestive bitters work too, by stimulating your gut to produce more acid.  I intend to start with them also.

It helps absorb nutrients, and in theory, once your body has access to all the nutrients it needs, your stomach will start producing acid normally. Personally, I don't know how much I buy into this theory, and I don't know how much evidence there is for it. Supposedly there have been cases of people taking digestive enzymes and having it shut down their pancreatic production indefinitely. And since soils are depleted in minerals, increasing absorption with betaine HCl may not be enough on its own. Eg, by some reports, food contains only 20% of the copper it used to have, so I don't think more acid will fix that.

LeBrianJones wrote:It helps absorb nutrients, and in theory, once your body has access to all the nutrients it needs, your stomach will start producing acid normally. Personally, I don't know how much I buy into this theory, and I don't know how much evidence there is for it. Supposedly there have been cases of people taking digestive enzymes and having it shut down their pancreatic production indefinitely. And since soils are depleted in minerals, increasing absorption with betaine HCl may not be enough on its own. Eg, by some reports, food contains only 20% of the copper it used to have, so I don't think more acid will fix that.

Sounds like you don't have any idea of the myriad problems caused by insufficient stomach acid. Most people don't, which is why over-the-counter and prescription meds
for gastric distress are a billion dollar business.

Delphine wrote:
Sounds like you don't have any idea of the myriad problems caused by insufficient stomach acid.  Most people don't, which is why over-the-counter and prescription meds
for gastric distress are a billion dollar business.

I do. I'm not sure how you arrived at that conclusion.

What I'm not sure of is if taking supplemental acid will get your stomach to resume normal acid production.

LeBrianJones wrote:

Delphine wrote:
Sounds like you don't have any idea of the myriad problems caused by insufficient stomach acid.  Most people don't, which is why over-the-counter and prescription meds
for gastric distress are a billion dollar business.

I do. I'm not sure how you arrived at that conclusion.

What I'm not sure of is if taking supplemental acid will get your stomach to resume normal acid production.

I think it is something we all need to be aware of with the passing years. If not taking HCL, using apple cider vinegar, lemon, ginger and other
digestive aids, as well as chewing well and other common sense measures.

This site is informative:
http://scdlifestyle.com/2012/06/hypochlorhydria-3-common-signs-of-low-stomach-acid/