You may have a stomach acid imbalance if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

• An unusual sense of “fullness” after eating
• Bloating, belching, burning, and flatulence immediately after meals
• Chronic Candida infections
• Hair loss
• Indigestion, diarrhea, and/or constipation
• Itching around the rectum
• Multiple food allergies and nausea²
• Undigested food in stools²
• Weak, peeled, and cracked fingernails

Diagnosis

The symptoms of low stomach acid (a condition known as hypochlorhydria) closely mimic those of excess stomach acid. Therefore, it’s important to know whether you’re suffering from low stomach acid, or excess stomach acid, before you begin treating any stomach symptoms.

The following tests and procedures may help you find out whether you’re suffering from a stomach acid imbalance:

• Online Self-assessments – Self-assessments, such as the Candidiasis Self-assessment and the Magnesium Assessment, can help you determine some of the root cause(s) of your chronic conditions. Learn more about Self-assessments.
• Self-test – To determine if you need to supplement your body’s production of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid (HCl)), take one capsule (about 525 milligrams), not tablets, of Betaine HCl with a meal. If you feel a burning sensation in your stomach with one capsule, you don’t need it. If you do not feel a burning sensation, keep increasing the number of capsules you take at each meal until you do feel a burning sensation, and then you know to take one less. (To neutralize the burning sensation just eat a little more food.)⁴
• Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis – Reveals undigested protein fibers in the stool which is a symptom of low stomach acid.
• The Heidelberg Test – A healthcare provider uses a special machine that tests the levels of stomach acid, although it’s not commonly used.⁴
• Blood tests – Can reveal pernicious anemia (aka vitamin B12 deficiency), a disorder in which the body does not absorb enough vitamin B12 from the digestive tract due, in part, to low stomach acid levels.

Additional Stomach Acid Imbalance Information

1. Stomach Acid Imbalance Overview
2. Common causes of stomach acid imbalance
3. Natural and alternative treatments for stomach acid imbalance
4. Dietary and lifestyle recommendations that may help in the treatment of stomach acid imbalance
5. Conventional or prescription medications used in the treatment of stomach acid imbalance
6. Cited Sources and Additional Reading for stomach acid imbalance

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