What does Stomach Acid do in the Body?
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is secreted by the stomach to help digest and absorb proteins and other nutrients that we consume in our diet or from supplements. HCl also serves to protect us by killing various pathogenic microorganisms (parasites, yeast, bacteria) that might otherwise cause infection in the digestive tract.
Sufficiently digested food is key for giving the body the nutrients it needs to function well, including producing hormones.
Symptoms of Low Hydrochloric Acid Secretion
People with low HCl (hypochlorhydria) or absent HCl (achlorhydria) may have no symptoms at all, or more commonly, may have symptoms of poor digestion such as gas, bloating and excessive fullness after meals (especially meals high in meat and protein).
Testing methods to check your stomach levels:
Method 1: Baking soda test
You can very easily do this test at home.
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4-6 ounces of cold or room-temperature water first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything.
- Drink the baking soda solution.
- Time how long it takes you to belch.
- If you do not belch within 3 minutes, stop timing.
If you do not belch, you have too little stomach acid. If you belch, you are fine.
This is not the most effective test and it often produces false negatives (meaning, it makes you think you have sufficient stomach acid). I, therefore, recommend Method 2 below.
Method 2: The Betaine HCl pill test
The idea here is to dose the HCl pills until you feel a slight discomfort in your stomach. When I was low on stomach acid (due to the bacteria h.pylori), I had to take as many as 7 pills to feel the warmth.
- On Day One, start with one capsule (usually 500 to 750mg) of Betaine HCl, at the beginning of each meal. Note: This means a full meal, not a snack.
- Watch for any feelings of warmth, discomfort, pain or burning in the throat or stomach.
- If you experience any of these symptoms after just one capsule, do not take any more pills.
- If these symptoms are NOT present, go to Step 3.
- On Day Two, increase your dose by one capsule (this would be two capsules for a total of 1,000 to 1,500 mg for Day Two) of Betaine HCl at the beginning of each full meal.
- If you feel any of the symptoms mentioned above (warmth, discomfort, pain or burning in your throat or stomach) decrease your dose to the level at which you had no symptoms and maintain this dose.
- If you do not feel these symptoms go to Step 4.
- On Day Three, increase your dose as described in Step 3. Each day increase the dose until you feel a warming sensation or until you reach a dose of seven capsules per meal. Do not take more than eight (8) capsules with a meal.
The brand I like to use is Betaine HCl w Pepsin from Hormone Balance Nutritionals.
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What do I do next keep taking them? So confused it’s like the post got cut off
Hi Dee,
This article is about doing at-home stomach acid testing. With further gut healing, you may not always need this type of supplemental support. You are correct in knowing that there is so much more to the subject regarding enzymes, inflammation, natural options to help increase stomach acid. Here is one of my favorite videos about stomach acid to learn more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqcGiR29WAU. I hope this helps ~HB Team
Hi! I just finished the initial testing phase and found taking 6 pills causes mild discomfort for me. While working on my gut health and diet, should I also continue taking 5 pills during meals? When do I know to stop doing this?
Hi Katharine,
Please make sure you are eating adequate protein at each meal. You will also want to download this free supplement guide to learn more https://hormonesbalance.com/supplement-guide/. Please consider doing a retest every few weeks and start to wean down as you tune into how the body is responding. ~HB Team
What if you have gastritis or an ulcer? Wouldn’t the betaine aggravate that?
Thanks!
Hi Angel,
Yes, those are conditions that are contraindicated for this supplement. Here is a free supplement guide to download and learn more related information, https://hormonesbalance.com/supplement-guide/ ~HB Team
Hi,
Is there a certain amount of time you have to wait before you start eating after you have taken your hcl supplement?
I have been consuming some before, during and after (almost at 10 pills) and nothing has happened.
HI MC,
Please follow the directions in the article:
On Day One, start with one capsule (usually 500 to 750mg) of Betaine HCl, at the beginning of each meal. Note: This means a full meal, not a snack.
Watch for any feelings of warmth, discomfort, pain or burning in the throat or stomach.
If you experience any of these symptoms after just one capsule, do not take any more pills.
If these symptoms are NOT present, go to Step 3.
On Day Two, increase your dose by one capsule (this would be two capsules for a total of 1,000 to 1,500 mg for Day Two) of Betaine HCl at the beginning of each full meal.
If you feel any of the symptoms mentioned above (warmth, discomfort, pain or burning in your throat or stomach) decrease your dose to the level at which you had no symptoms and maintain this dose.
If you do not feel these symptoms go to Step 4.
On Day Three, increase your dose as described in Step 3. Each day increase the dose until you feel a warming sensation or until you reach a dose of seven capsules per meal. Do not take more than eight (8) capsules with a meal.
I hope this helps!
Jeanne HB Team
How long does it take for the discomforts to start when trying to find the right dosage with the high protein meals? 30 min, 1hr or how long roughly?
Hi Phillip,
Please follow the direction in the article and listen to your body as everyone is different. If you experience any of those symptoms after just one capsule, do not take any more pills.
Jeanne HB Team
Can these tests be done if you’re on PPI med every 12 hours for severe delayed stomach emptying? My symptoms are getting worse, and I wanted to self check before going into the gastroenterologist
Any suggestions? Thanks.
Hi Nora,
The commenter MC, below, is correct, the PPI medications direct the body to decrease the amount of stomach acid made. Stomach acid is a natural defense. Please consider downloading this free supplement guide https://hormonesbalance.com/supplement-guide/ ~HB Team
I read if you are on PPI you shouldn’t be supplementing with hcl until you are off it completely as PPI reduces your stomach acid and hcl increases it.
Hi, my pills hold 1g pr pill. I am at 4 pills and will try 5 tomorrow. In other words, I’m getting close to your limit of pills or meal. Why don’t you recommend taking more pills? Why do you consider it to be dangerous?
Hi U,
Most times supplementation alone, is not the answer. There may need to be more supportive foods included in the diet for real and noticeable changes to occur. More does not always equal better. Have you seen this preview of Magdalena’s program, Cooking for Balance https://hormonesbalance.com/cfb/. It teaches about gut healing, liver support and sugar balancing to help the body heal naturally. ~HB Team
Hi, how come you don’t recommend 8 pills? I’m at 7 pills and still haven’t felt a burning sensation. Is it an obvious sensation when you do feel it?
Hi Chenille,
In the article, she says, “Do not take more than eight (8) capsules with a meal”. There are recommended limits to consider. You may also want to support the body additionally with dietary considerations. Here is the program preview for Cooking for Balance https://hormonesbalance.com/cfb/ to learn more. It has the foundational principles of healing the gut, supporting the liver and balancing sugar to bring the body back to balance. ~HB Team
Most other places I’ve seen this type of test mentioned in they said you could take up to 8, 10 or even 14 pills at a time until you reach the right dosage. Either way at the worst case you’ll have some diehrria, not pleasent but it won’t kill you. When you reach the right dosage you’re supposed to continue taking it and with time you’ll supposedly need less and less (I’m currently still in the testing phase, up to 3 pills).
Hi Ben,
Magdalena does not recommend taking more than 8 capsules with one meal. How did the testing go for you? ~Deanna HB Team
There is no mention of what to do if/when it is confirmed there is low stomach acid.
Hi Terri,
You would want to check out this gut restore kit and possibly dietary changes to support gut healing. . ~Deanna HB Team
Hello, I was wondering, I was diagnosed with GERD, although Ive heard the diagnosis for that isnt always correct and I can actually not have enough acid so I have tried the Hcl and could barely handle 1 capsule, so do you think it means that I have too much acid?
Hi Lori,
It is very rare one has too much acid. What do you mean you could barely handle one capsule-what happened? ~Deanna HB Team
Thanks for this information! I’ve taken HCL w/pepsin – 250 mg. – as many as 4 at a meal, and never felt the ‘warmth’ you spoke of. I was afraid taking more would be harmful, so didn’t try. Good to know a way to test the limits!
Hi Janet,
How are you doing now with your stomach acid/digestion? ~Deanna HB Team
Nice post..
Hi Susan,
Thank you.
Angela, HB Team