Stomach upset?

Today, we talk about the stomach. We've all had an upset stomach at some point in our lives. You know . . . a tummy ache, heartburn, indigestion or acid reflux.

And this discomfort could be caused by stress, food poisoning, a virus, bacterium or Gastroparesis, with most of the time these symptoms clearing themselves up in 1 to 3 days, and a more serious condition taking up to 10 days.

So what causes this upset in the first place?

Well . . . to figure that out, we must first understand the stomach.

As we know from previous Health tips . . . the human body is built to naturally maintain a healthy balance of "acidity" and "alkalinity". A normal blood pH level is a 7 on a scale of - 0 to 14. With 0 being the most "acidic" and 14 the most alkaline.

Okay . . . so where does the stomach fit into all of this?

Well . . . the pH of gastric acid of the stomach needs to be between 1.5 and 3.5 on that same pH scale, with that being "its" neutral range. This is unlike the rest of the body where its neutral range is between 6.5 to 7.5. As you can see . . . it's well below the neutral of 7 for the body. The reason for this . . . is that the stomach acids need to be able to break down and burn up your food. Therefore, needing to be a lower range which is "more" acidic.

Now . . . contrary to the belief of what science tells us . . . the real reason we have acid reflux, indigestion, heartburn or stomach upset . . . is NOT due to the stomach acid being "too high" in intensity . . . but rather because the stomach acid is "too low".

You see . . . in the theory of science . . . if the stomach acid was "too high in intensity", which is what they tell us, you'd have acid reflux that would burns up the esophagus . . .

The stomach's primary digestive juice, "hydrochloric acid" can actually dissolve metal. This would mean on the pH scale of 0 to 14 (if neutral is 1.5 to 3.5 for the stomach), "too high" intensity would have to be below 1.5 because that would make the "acidity" higher, more potent and more intense. AND this theory would allow this acid to eat the lining of the stomach and esophagus due to it being as strong as battery acid. This theory is incorrect!

What's really happening is this stomach acid becomes "too low" in intensity, meaning it raises to an unhealthy 3.5 or above. Now, when this happens . . . the ability of this acid to do its job weakens and it now is allowed to cause stomach upset and escape up into the esophagus.

Why you ask?

Well . . . one of the main functions of this acid is to kill "bad" bacteria. And when this acid is too "weak" meaning above 3.5 . . . it "can't kill the "bad" bacteria and this bacteria now causes infection of the stomach and esophagus allowing indigestion, acid reflux, heartburn and an array of other conditions.

So taking an antacid and neutralizing this acid even "more" raising its pH level to an "alkaline"state like a 6 or 7 on this scale . . . is not the answer.

The answer is putting the stomach acid back in its neutral range of 1.5 to 3. 5. And to do that you would need to make it more 'acidic" NOT "alkalized" like with antacids. Antacids make you feel better because they raise the pH level for a quick fix of relief, but they are NOT fixing the problem and if this problem goes unattended it can turn into stomach, esophagus or pancreatic cancer. It's the "bad" bacteria that causes the change in cells that cause cancer NOT the stomach acid.

So stop taking over the counter drugs for your upset stomach!!!! Long term antacids and digestive aids are doing more harm than good.

So if you want to stop a stomach ache, heartburn, acid reflux, etc. . . . then make the stomach more "acidic" so it can do its job of killing the "bad" bacteria that's actually the reason we have a stomachache, heartburn or acid reflux in the first place.

It has "nothing" to do with the acid of the stomach hurting you . . . BUT everything to do with the "bad" bacteria building colonies and running a muck in your stomach and esophagus. This is what changes and mutates our cells.

Proper "acid" levels in the stomach are our protect and our friend not the enemy.

"Bad" bacteria is the enemy.

As always, feel free to contact me here.