Q:  Is bad breath a sign of hydrochloric acid deficiency (HCL)?

A: Yes, HCL is secreted by the parietal cells at a pH of about .8, but by the time it is mixed with the stomach contents and with the secretions from the nonoxyntic glandular cells of the stomach, the pH ranges around 2 or 3, a highly favorable range of acidity for pepsin activity.

Q: Are ulcers connected to HCL deficiency?

A:  Yes, a person with stomach ulcers lacks HCL and pepsin, so s/he does not digest his/her food.  Instead of being digested, the foot rots, creating gas and an ‘organic’ acid which starts to erode the stomach.  The acid that seems to be ‘too much’  is the acid produced by the rotting food.

Q: What are some signs of HCL deficiency?

A:  Remember, you should only be on antacids for 2 weeks.  When taken longer, they raise the pH level of the stomach environment to 6.0  (too alkaline) when it should be 1.0.  You will become deficient in protein (leads to flabby upper arms and butt cheeks), calcium (leads to osteoporosis), and iron (leads to anemia).  Signs of HCL deficiency include foul smelling gas, indigestion after eating, stomach bloating, loss of taste for meat, and burning stomach sensations.

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**This blog is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a guide for diagnosis or treatment of any kind. This content is brought to you by the brilliant work and thinking of the pioneers of nutrition: Dr. Royal Lee, Dr. Weston A. Price, Dr. Melvin E. Page, Dr. Francis Pottenger, and many more for their ceaseless dedication to better nutrition and health!