Could low stomach acid be the missing piece?

When people think of heartburn, acid reflux or indigestion, they often assume they have too much stomach acid. In my functional medicine practice, I frequently find that low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) is one of the hidden root causes behind MANY chronic digestive and health concerns INCLUDING these symptoms.Many people are surprised to learn that acid reflux can actually occur because there isn’t enough stomach acid, rather than too much.

Symptoms coming from low stomach acid are the number one thing I see in my practice. It is hard to test and rarely addressed or discussed in conventional medicine circles.

Common Signs of Low Stomach Acid

You may experience:

• Bloating, especially after eating protein

• Feeling unusually full after small meals

• Burping or belching

• Acid reflux or heartburn

• Indigestion

• Undigested food in your stool

• Nutrient deficiencies

• Fatigue

• Brittle nails or hair loss

• Frequent infections

Stomach acid does far more than digest food. It is essential for:

• Breaking down protein - (I often see in clients avoiding eating protein because they sense they don’t digest it well)

• Absorbing nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, and zinc - (so think immune system, energy, mitochondrial health, and winding down and sleep).

• Stimulating digestive enzymes and bile flow

• Protecting us from harmful bacteria and parasites

• Keeping the gut microbiome balanced

When stomach acid is too low, digestion becomes inefficient, creating a ripple effect throughout the body. Stomach acid is a ‘building block’ of other digestive helpers like pancreatic enzymes that help us break down proteins, fats and carbs (among other things), and bile which helps us digest and absorb fat. Stomach acid also acts like a gatekeeper or the `bouncer at the bar` of your digestive system, and it wards off pathogens we don’t want in (bacterial, fungal or parasitic). When it is low, the bouncer is off duty and the gateways open to overgrowths in the small and large intestine that can lead to symptoms like constipation, bloating, gas, acne or skin inflammation and food sensitivities.

Your stomach is meant to be acidic.

Why It Matters

Low stomach acid can contribute to bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO), poor nutrient absorption, food sensitivities, and ongoing inflammation. Over time, these issues may play a role in more complex health conditions that extend well beyond digestion.

Rather than simply suppressing symptoms, functional medicine aims to understand why digestion isn’t working as it should. By identifying and addressing the underlying cause, we can often improve digestive function and support overall health.

Digestive symptoms aren’t something you simply have to live with. If you’ve been struggling with bloating, reflux, indigestion, or unexplained nutrient deficiencies, it may be worth investigating whether low stomach acid is part of the picture. GI MAP functional stool testing can provide a lot of answers to whether low stomach acid is contributing to some of your digestive and health concerns. It is a pretty awesome test and I have never once ran it without finding answers clients have been looking for, often for years with no answers within conventional medicine.

Healing begins by understanding and treating the root cause—not just managing the symptoms.

If this sounds familiar, I’d love to help you uncover what’s really going on and create a personalized plan to restore healthy digestion.