Have you ever noticed just how often food related commercials are intermixed with commercials for heartburn medications? The take away being that you can continue eating as much of the foods that are likely causing your pain, as often as you would like, if you take some type of heartburn medication.
It seems that if we stay attuned to the general consensus, stomach acid is an unnecessary burden on the body and something that should be constantly tamed or neutralized. So, have another Tums or some more Prilosec and all will be well.
In reality this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Stomach acid is a much needed and highly under appreciated part of our digestive system, crucial for the process of digesting and sterilizing everything we eat. The pH of the stomach should be quite acidic. The pH should be between 1 and 3 in the presence of food. The stomach is designed to handle that highly acidic environment without any discomfort or pain.
Now, if this is so, why do so many people have heartburn? The commercials might leave you thinking folks are producing too much acid! So, let’s look at the physiology.
The low pH in the stomach is the trigger for several processes in the digestive tract. First, the high acid levels stimulate the complete closing of the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach. This prevents refluxing food and gastric juices back into the esophagus where the acid would burn and damage tissue. The higher the acid content of the stomach the more tightly this is triggered to close. So, if the pH is higher than 3, which is more alkaline and less acidic, the sphincter may not close tightly and when you bend over or lay down heartburn is more likely. This is the most common cause of heartburn.
The low pH, highly acidic environment of the stomach also sterilizes the food we eat, killing bacteria, virus, and parasites. This prevents them from entering the small intestines where they would have a high likelihood of contributing to and causing health problems. It is estimated that 1/3 of the population of the US has chronic issues with parasites. It is well documented that a common issue with long term use of antacids and acid blockers is increased infections.
So, what happens further down stream, through the rest of the digestive process? The pH of the food that moves from the stomach into the small intestines stimulates the release of bile, bicarbonate, and pancreatic enzymes into the small intestines. This neutralizes the acidic food and brings the pH of the small intestines near 7 (a neutral pH). This allows for normal healthy digestion of your food as it is processed through the rest of the small intestines. This also insures a healthy environment for the beneficial flora of the intestines.
So, what would happen if the pH of the stomach were only 5? This is still an acidic environment but the LES (lower esophageal sphincter, between the esophagus and stomach) may not close completely. Food or gastric juices may reflux back into the esophagus and at a pH of 5 this will still cause pain and damage tissue. This is not the only concern; the food moving into the small intestines will not be acidic enough to cause the release of bile, pancreatic enzymes, or bicarbonate. The pH of the small intestine will not neutralize and complete digestion of nutrients will not be efficient. Over time, repetition of this process will lead to nutritional deficiencies. The health of the beneficial flora will also be compromised. The nutrients that they create will over time become deficient. Harmful bacteria will have the opportunity to thrive in the small intestines. The aspect of the immune system that is dependent on the health of the flora will be weakened. Opportunistic infections will become more likely and overall health and vitality will decline.
With this, there is an increase in a vast number of health concerns that seem to have no connection to the digestive tract. Keep in mind we are now looking at the effect of nutrition deficiency and increased inflammation, not a lack of calories. So, the list of related health concerns is quite long and can include issues from body aches and pains, to insomnia, depression, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, and skin issues – including acne, hormone imbalances, auto immune issues, osteoporosis, arthritis, and more. And, of course, you may see the common GI relates symptoms, but you may not.
Our acid blocking medications were never meant to be used long term. And, yes, at times they are absolutely necessary. It may be wise, however, to look for other solutions. Is stress too high? This can suppress digestive processes in most people. Are there foods in the diet that the body is reacting to? Eating foods that are inappropriate, whether because they are highly processed foods (which are not appropriate for anyone), or foods we are allergic or sensitive to, can cause chronic heartburn. Individualized food allergies or food sensitivities are common with many chronic health issues. We tend to think of certain foods as healthy, but they may not be for everyone. Often an elimination diet or simple testing will clarify issues. And, as we get older, production of stomach acid declines in most individuals; by the age of 50 stomach acid production may have declined by 50% or more. That, compounded with high stress, processed foods, and food sensitivities, is a great recipe for heartburn.
If you find you are often reaching for the antacids, it might be time to consider looking for the underlying cause and addressing that for long term health and happiness!
Best regards – Dr. Monica Rempen
References:
Textbook of Functional Medicine , Guyton's Textbook on Human Physiology, Robbins' text on Pathology
It seems that if we stay attuned to the general consensus, stomach acid is an unnecessary burden on the body and something that should be constantly tamed or neutralized. So, have another Tums or some more Prilosec and all will be well.
In reality this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Stomach acid is a much needed and highly under appreciated part of our digestive system, crucial for the process of digesting and sterilizing everything we eat. The pH of the stomach should be quite acidic. The pH should be between 1 and 3 in the presence of food. The stomach is designed to handle that highly acidic environment without any discomfort or pain.
Now, if this is so, why do so many people have heartburn? The commercials might leave you thinking folks are producing too much acid! So, let’s look at the physiology.
The low pH in the stomach is the trigger for several processes in the digestive tract. First, the high acid levels stimulate the complete closing of the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach. This prevents refluxing food and gastric juices back into the esophagus where the acid would burn and damage tissue. The higher the acid content of the stomach the more tightly this is triggered to close. So, if the pH is higher than 3, which is more alkaline and less acidic, the sphincter may not close tightly and when you bend over or lay down heartburn is more likely. This is the most common cause of heartburn.
The low pH, highly acidic environment of the stomach also sterilizes the food we eat, killing bacteria, virus, and parasites. This prevents them from entering the small intestines where they would have a high likelihood of contributing to and causing health problems. It is estimated that 1/3 of the population of the US has chronic issues with parasites. It is well documented that a common issue with long term use of antacids and acid blockers is increased infections.
So, what happens further down stream, through the rest of the digestive process? The pH of the food that moves from the stomach into the small intestines stimulates the release of bile, bicarbonate, and pancreatic enzymes into the small intestines. This neutralizes the acidic food and brings the pH of the small intestines near 7 (a neutral pH). This allows for normal healthy digestion of your food as it is processed through the rest of the small intestines. This also insures a healthy environment for the beneficial flora of the intestines.
So, what would happen if the pH of the stomach were only 5? This is still an acidic environment but the LES (lower esophageal sphincter, between the esophagus and stomach) may not close completely. Food or gastric juices may reflux back into the esophagus and at a pH of 5 this will still cause pain and damage tissue. This is not the only concern; the food moving into the small intestines will not be acidic enough to cause the release of bile, pancreatic enzymes, or bicarbonate. The pH of the small intestine will not neutralize and complete digestion of nutrients will not be efficient. Over time, repetition of this process will lead to nutritional deficiencies. The health of the beneficial flora will also be compromised. The nutrients that they create will over time become deficient. Harmful bacteria will have the opportunity to thrive in the small intestines. The aspect of the immune system that is dependent on the health of the flora will be weakened. Opportunistic infections will become more likely and overall health and vitality will decline.
With this, there is an increase in a vast number of health concerns that seem to have no connection to the digestive tract. Keep in mind we are now looking at the effect of nutrition deficiency and increased inflammation, not a lack of calories. So, the list of related health concerns is quite long and can include issues from body aches and pains, to insomnia, depression, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, and skin issues – including acne, hormone imbalances, auto immune issues, osteoporosis, arthritis, and more. And, of course, you may see the common GI relates symptoms, but you may not.
Our acid blocking medications were never meant to be used long term. And, yes, at times they are absolutely necessary. It may be wise, however, to look for other solutions. Is stress too high? This can suppress digestive processes in most people. Are there foods in the diet that the body is reacting to? Eating foods that are inappropriate, whether because they are highly processed foods (which are not appropriate for anyone), or foods we are allergic or sensitive to, can cause chronic heartburn. Individualized food allergies or food sensitivities are common with many chronic health issues. We tend to think of certain foods as healthy, but they may not be for everyone. Often an elimination diet or simple testing will clarify issues. And, as we get older, production of stomach acid declines in most individuals; by the age of 50 stomach acid production may have declined by 50% or more. That, compounded with high stress, processed foods, and food sensitivities, is a great recipe for heartburn.
If you find you are often reaching for the antacids, it might be time to consider looking for the underlying cause and addressing that for long term health and happiness!
Best regards – Dr. Monica Rempen
References:
Textbook of Functional Medicine , Guyton's Textbook on Human Physiology, Robbins' text on Pathology
