Stomach Acidity Test
Low stomach acid can have similar signs & symptoms as high stomach acid however the health implication of low stomach acid will lead to a cascade of unhealthy events in the body listed below. In addition if you are taking antacid tablets or liquids you could be promoting the problem further, if low stomach acid is an underlining problem.
Sodium Bicarbonate – stomach acid test
*Do this test when you have an empty stomach.
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in an 8-ounce glass of water (that’s baking soda- sodium bicarbonate, not baking powder)
- Drink it, & make a note of the time on your watch or a clock.
- Measure how much time passes before you burp.
- If you haven’t burped within five minutes, you can stop timing.
A person with a normal level of stomach acid will burp within two minutes.
If you haven’t burped after five minutes have passed, you are seriously low in stomach acid.
Low stomach acid can lead to impaired digestion and absorption of vital vitamins & minerals as well as causing many digestive problems. Impaired upper digestion can cause the food you have eaten to ferment while the digestion process is slowly taking place after you have eaten. The impaired digestion & fermentation can cause the following symptoms: acid reflux, bloating, abdominal cramping & pains, excessive burping, flatulence, impaired digestion and absorption of macro & micro nutrients, digestive discomfort, IBS, constipation, gut permeability, food intolerances, inflammation in the body and more.
There are many ways to increase upper digestion so that lower digestion and absorption are improved and symptoms are elevated. There are many signs and symptoms to indicate poor upper digestion and a number of ways to improve it depending on the individual.
First step in the protocol is to assess if a client has healthy eating habits and to rebalance this practice first. If you are eating “on the go”, while driving, having lunch while on your laptop, leaving very long intervals between meals or snacks then there is a necessary need for change. Mindful eating begins with the preparation of food, thinking about your food prior to eating it, pleasant presentation of a meal etc. All of these factors will aid the process of healthy digestion, the ideal outcome is to be salivating prior to eating, and chew your food well. Here is a little awareness exercise for you: count how many chews you take before swallowing and then in the next one count 30-35 chews before swallowing and see how far you get, this helps you gage the difference between your norm and where you should be! When your are eating, slow down & chew your food well you should be naturally stimulated to swallow when the food is ready.
Impaired digestion can be due to an unbalanced diet, low stomach HCL (which the above test helps you gage) low digestive enzymes, impaired digestive functions (liver, pancreas etc)dehydration, all of which are detectable in a clinical review and treatable through diet and supplement protocol. In severe cases when the gut lining has been damaged and gut permeability is present IgG testing will be beneficial to the client with the implementation of dietary changes and/or supplementation protocol.
Check out this Nutritional Therapy Questionnaire for a better insight into your current health profile and get feedback via email