Question

How do I know if I have low or high stomach acid?

Answer 1

Stomach acid also known as gastric juice or gastric acid are the digestive enzymes which form the lining of the stomach. The pH of gastric acid ranges from 1 to 3 which helps in the digestion of proteins. The digestion starts by activating digestive enzymes which breaks the long chain of amino acids of protein.

Complete answer:
Stomach acid also known as gastric juice or gastric acid are the digestive enzymes which form the lining of the stomach. The pH of gastric acid ranges from 1 to 3 which helps in the digestion of proteins. The digestion starts by activating digestive enzymes which break the long chain of amino acids of protein.

After taking a meal, production of gastric acid increases because of the feedback system. Other cells of the stomach produce bicarbonate ions to maintain the acidity of the stomach to regulate the pH. The hydrochloric acid is secreted by the parietal cells of gastric glands. The highly acidic nature breaks the protein into amino acids.

Common sign of low stomach acid are:
Food allergies and intolerance.
Bloating and gas production after eating food.
Nutritional deficiency.
Skin problems like acne.
Undigested food in the stool.

Common sign of high stomach acid are:
Heartburn.
Diarrhea.
Decreased appetite.
Nausea or vomiting.
Abdominal discomfort.

Note:
Stomach acid also known as gastric juice or gastric acid are the digestive enzymes which form the lining of the stomach. The pH of gastric acid ranges from 1 to 3 which helps in the digestion of proteins. After taking a meal production of gastric acid increases because of the feedback system. Other cells of the stomach produce bicarbonate ions to maintain the acidity of the stomach to regulate the pH. The above mentioned common signs are of high and low stomach acid.