Digestive Issues, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Diabetes, & more… Digestive Problems, Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Gastric Hypofunction / Hypochlorhydria Hypochlorhydria has been associated with many common health problems.  Not all of them are considered “digestive” problems, but they are.  As we age, the parietal cells in the stomach lining produce less hydrochloric acid.  In fact, half of people over the age of sixty have hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid), and by age eighty-five, 80 percent of the healthy people tested had low stomach acid.  Over consumption of fatty foods increases the secretion of HCI, contributing to GERD and heartburn.  Medications are given to block HCI production, when a dietary change is what may actually be needed. The balance of stomach acidity is vital to the health of the stomach and to our overall health.   Hydrochloric acid (HCI) is our body’s first line of defense against disease causing microbes.  Low HCI levels open us to the possibility of food poisoning and Dysbiosis along the digestive tract.  Overgrowth of bacteria in the intestinal tract occurs in 20 percent of people aged sixty to eighty and in 40 percent of people over ages eighty.  Adequate HCI is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12 from food.  B12 deficiency causes weakness, fatigue, and nervous system problems.  Several minerals require an acidic environment for absorption, including iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper and most B-complex vitamins require normal levels of stomach acid.  Vitamin C levels are also low in people with poor stomach acid.  Acid is critical for the breakdown of protein bonds in the stomach.  Poor acid content in the stomach causes indigestion.  The symptoms of hypoacidity often mimic those of hyperacidity. FUNCTIONAL LABORATORY TESTING Heidelberg Capsule Test: This test measures your ability to produce hydrochloric acid when challenged with alkaline substances. HEALING OPTIONS Betaine HCI: Dosage: Begin with one 10 milligram capsule of betaine HCI with meals.  If you do not respond, build slowly to a maximum of 5 capsules with each meal.  If you experience burning, immediately neutralize the acid with 1 tsp. baking soda in water or milk.  That indicates that you now have too much HCI and are irritating your stomach lining.  Cut back your dosage to a comfortable level. Vinegar: You can increase stomach acidity with vinegar.  Dilute 1 teaspoon of vinegar in water and drink with each meal.  Gradually increase the amount of vinegar, up to 10 teaspoons.  If you experience burning, immediately neutralize the acid by drinking a glass of milk or taking a teaspoon of baking soda in water. Vitamin B12 deficiency: Have your physician test your serum B12 levels.  If your levels are in the high-normal range, you don’t have a deficiency.  If your levels are now-normal, you may still be deficient in vitamin B12.  More sensitive tests of vitamin B12 status are methylmalonic acid and Homocystein levels, but these tests are not widely available and are fairly expensive.  A more expedient and less expensive route is to ask your physician to give you 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 by injection weekly for four weeks.  Then you and your doctor can evaluate the benefits.  You may use sublingual vitamin B12 lozenges to prolong the effects of the vitamin B12 shots. Multivitamin with minerals: Adequate HCI is necessary for absorption of vitamins and minerals.  Since you are depleted in many nutrients, arm yourself with an excellent multivitamin with minerals.  Because minerals are bulky, you’ll probably find yourself taking anywhere from four to nine pills daily.  Look for a supplement which contains the following: 1,000 milligrams calcium, 500 milligrams magnesium, no more than 400 IU vitamin D, 100-200 micrograms chromium, 100-200 micrograms selenium, 5-10 milligrams manganese, at least 15 milligrams zinc, and at least 25 milligrams of e3ach B-vitamins. Digestive enzyme: I recommend plant-derived enzymes because they are able to work in the low pH of the stomach and in the neutral environment of the intestines.  They provide protease and lipase for the stomach and serve your enzyme needs throughout the digestive tract.  Dosage: one to two with meals for a trail period of four weeks. Swedish bitters: Bitters are a long-standing remedy for poor digestion in Europe.  They stimulate production of hydrochloric acid.  Take bitters either in tablet or liquid form as needed. Chew food thoroughly Eat small meals frequently: Small meals are easier to digest. Avoid drinking liquids with meals: Fluids dilute stomach acid Avoid drinking tap-water: Tap-water contains chloride which kills friendly bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract thereby compromising digestion and immune system functioning.