Why Your Stomach Acid Deserves More Respect-What I Wish Everyone Knew About Reflux, PPIs, and the Real Root of Heartburn

When I first started learning about digestion years ago, I didn’t give much thought to stomach acid. After all, heartburn and reflux seemed like they were caused by too much acid, right?

However, as I delved deeper into my healing journey, I discovered that the truth was almost the opposite. Stomach acid isn’t a problem to fix—it’s something your body desperately needs to stay healthy.

That’s why I want to talk about Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)—medications like Losec (omeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), Pantoloc (pantoprazole), and Dexilant (dexlansoprazole)—and why long-term suppression of stomach acid might do more harm than good.

If you’ve ever been prescribed a PPI or wondered if there’s a more natural way to support your digestion, this is for you.

The Amazing (and Often Misunderstood) Role of Stomach Acid

Stomach acid (hydrochloric acid, or HCl) plays a far more vital role than most people realize. It helps digest proteins by activating pepsin, the enzyme that breaks proteins down into usable amino acids. It also unlocks nutrient absorption—without good stomach acid, your body can’t fully absorb key nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.

Stomach acid is also a powerful line of defense. It kills harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites that enter the body through food and drink. It signals the pancreas and liver to release bile and enzymes, helping the rest of your digestive system function efficiently.

And despite what we’ve been led to believe, stomach acid actually helps prevent reflux. When stomach acid is too low, food can sit in the stomach too long and begin to ferment. That fermentation causes gas, bloating, and pressure—pushing stomach contents back up into the esophagus and leading to that familiar burning sensation.

Yes, you read that right: many times, heartburn and reflux are caused by too little stomach acid—not too much. Learning that changed everything for me—and it might for you, too.

What Causes Low Stomach Acid?

Low stomach acid, also called hypochlorhydria, is surprisingly common. It can be triggered by a combination of lifestyle, medical, and emotional factors.

• Chronic stress: When the body is stuck in fight-or-flight mode, digestion slows and acid production drops.

• Age: Stomach acid naturally declines as we get older.

• Long-term PPI use: These medications can make it harder for your body to produce acid on its own.

• Nutrient deficiencies: Especially in zinc and B vitamins, which are needed to produce stomach acid.

• H. pylori infection: This common bacteria can damage the stomach lining and reduce acid production.

• Poor eating habits: Eating too quickly, eating while distracted, or overeating can all suppress acid levels.

• Food sensitivities, alcohol, and restrictive diets: These can wear down digestive strength over time.

Understanding these root causes is a powerful first step toward real healing.

The Deeper Impact of Low Stomach Acid: Gut Imbalances and Beyond

Low stomach acid doesn’t just affect digestion in the stomach—it impacts the entire digestive tract, setting the stage for deeper imbalances over time. One of the most significant consequences is gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance between beneficial and harmful microbes in the gut.

Stomach acid acts as a frontline defence, keeping bacteria, parasites, and yeast from colonizing where they don’t belong. When this barrier is weak, harmful microbes can travel downstream, disrupt the gut environment, and trigger symptoms far beyond heartburn.

Here’s how that can unfold:

1. Overgrowth and Fermentation

Without strong acid, bacteria that should be neutralized in the stomach can move into the small intestine, leading to issues like SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), bloating, gas, and food intolerances, especially to carbs and fermentable fibers.

2. Protein and Nutrient Malabsorption

HCl is essential for breaking down proteins and absorbing nutrients like B12, iron, zinc, and magnesium. When these processes are compromised, it can lead to fatigue, brain fog, weak immunity, and other downstream symptoms.

3. Impaired Gut Motility

Acid helps trigger the rhythmic contractions that move food through the digestive system. Low acid can contribute to sluggish motility, causing food to ferment and linger too long—leading to bloating, constipation, or reflux.

4. Opportunistic Infections

Fungi like candida or parasites that would normally be destroyed in the stomach can survive and colonize the gut, adding to inflammation, immune dysregulation, and digestive discomfort.

In short, low stomach acid isn’t just about indigestion. It creates conditions where the gut ecosystem struggles to stay in balance, and that imbalance can show up in everything from energy to mood to immune health.

The Problem with PPIs

There’s a time and place for medications like PPIs. They can be essential in the short term—for example, during an acute ulcer or with severe esophageal inflammation. But the problem begins when they’re used long-term, often for months or even years, without addressing the underlying issue.

When stomach acid is suppressed for too long, it can trigger a cascade of health challenges:

• Nutrient absorption declines

• Infection risk increases

• Gut microbial balance is disrupted

• Stomach lining may weaken

• Rebound hyperacidity often develops when trying to stop

Important Note: Never stop PPIs abruptly without medical supervision. Work with a practitioner to create a gradual, supportive plan if you're considering transitioning off.

A More Natural Way to Support Stomach Health

If you’re struggling with reflux or digestive discomfort, there are ways to support your body without shutting down one of its key defences.

1. Slow down and chew well.
Mindful eating stimulates natural acid production and supports digestion.

2. Try digestive bitters or apple cider vinegar.
A few drops of bitters or a splash of apple cider vinegar in water before meals can stimulate acid production when appropriate.

3. Supplement with digestive enzymes.
Look for blends that include HCl, pepsin, and plant-based enzymes to support proper breakdown of food.

4. Avoid diluting your stomach acid.
Skip oversized portions and avoid drinking large amounts of water with meals.

5. Manage stress—especially around meals.
Chronic tension shuts down digestion. Breathing exercises, a moment of calm, or simple gratitude can help.

6. Soothe the gut lining.
If your stomach is irritated, herbs like DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice), slippery elm, and marshmallow root can help restore balance.

Signs You May Have Low Stomach Acid

• Bloating or heaviness after meals

• Feeling full quickly

• Heartburn or reflux

• Frequent gas or burping

• Undigested food in stool

• Chronic fatigue or nutrient deficiencies

• Frequent colds or infections

If you’re nodding along to any of these, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. Your body is likely doing its best to protect you with the tools it has.

Honouring the Healing Process

I know how frustrating digestive issues can be. It’s tempting to chase fast relief—I’ve been there. But what I’ve learned, and what I want you to know, is that your body is wise. It’s always working to protect you, even when the symptoms feel uncomfortable or confusing.

Suppressing stomach acid long-term doesn’t address the root cause—it only masks it. And sometimes, it does so at the expense of your long-term health.

Healing takes time. It asks us to slow down, listen, and build back trust in our bodies. There is a better way—one that works with your body, not against it.

And you don’t have to walk that path alone.

If you’re ready to explore more natural ways to support your digestion, I’d be honoured to be part of your journey.

With warmth and wellness,
Kathi