Is Your Stomach Acid Helping or Hurting You?
Written with Ann Arbor Holistic Health Practitioner, Maral Salerno, FDN-P
Maral’s journey with gut issues after pregnancy led her to explore a more holistic path that she now uses to support others. She is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner with 20 years of experience, a Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher, and a Thai Massage Therapist. Maral also holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of California San Diego.
Discover how stomach acid affects digestion, symptoms of imbalance, and holistic ways to support healthy acid levels.
If you've ever felt a burning sensation in your chest after a meal or dealt with bloating that won’t go away, your stomach acid might be the missing piece. You’ve probably heard about it in the context of acid reflux or indigestion, but few people realize how much this powerful fluid impacts your overall health and not just digestion. Let’s take a closer look at what it does, how to spot signs of imbalance, and what you can do to support healthy levels.
What is stomach acid and what does it do?
Also known as hydrochloric acid, stomach acid is a powerful fluid your body makes to break down food. It helps turn your meal into a usable form called chyme so your body can absorb nutrients effectively. But digestion is only part of the story. With a typical stomach acid pH of 1.5 to 3.5, this acidic environment also protects you by destroying bacteria and viruses you may swallow. Maral Salerno, FDN-P adds, “Ideally you want your stomach acid to be at 2.2 pH.” Without enough acid, your first line of defense against infection weakens.
Low Stomach Acid Symptoms
It’s easy to assume symptoms like bloating or heartburn come from too much acid, but low stomach acid is actually very common and often overlooked. Low stomach acid symptoms can include feeling full for hours after eating, frequent gas or bloating, undigested food in your stool, or ongoing food sensitivities. Without enough acid to properly break down food, your body misses out on key nutrients. Over time, this can lead to leaky gut, microbial imbalances, and other chronic issues.
Maral Salerno, a practitioner at Ann Arbor Holistic Health explains, “Low stomach acid can also be a major culprit for constipation, because when there isn’t enough acid, the food sits in the stomach and creates an imbalance in bacteria, slowing everything down. Sluggish digestion contributes to constipation because once it’s slow in the stomach, it doesn’t just magically start picking up speed through the rest of the digestive system.”
High Stomach Acid Symptoms & Myths
While low acid can cause problems, high acid isn’t helpful either. High stomach acid symptoms include a burning feeling in your chest, a sour taste in your mouth, and that uncomfortable sensation of stomach acid in your throat. In some cases, it may even lead to throwing up stomach acid, especially when your stomach is empty. Repeated exposure to excess acid can irritate or damage the esophagus and stomach lining, raising your risk for ulcers and long-term inflammation.
Maral Salerno, FDN-P breaks it down like this, “We chew our food, then it goes down the esophagus, then the stomach (which should have already produced hydrochloric acid). When that acid hits a 2.2 pH, it’s a trigger to open the doorway from the stomach to the small intestine. When it doesn’t open, the food in the stomach rots, ferments, and gasses. It gets overwhelmed and opens the doorway from the stomach to the esophagus instead. Now a doorway is open that should not be open. When that doorway is open, the little bit of acid present in the stomach splashes up into the esophagus. This can cause burning, reflux, and GERD symptoms.”
Stomach Acid and the Gut Microbiome
A healthy stomach acid pH supports more than digestion. It also plays a key role in shaping your gut microbiome. When your stomach doesn’t produce enough acid, unwanted bacteria can start to grow in places they don’t belong. This can throw off your internal balance and contribute to symptoms like bloating, fatigue, and frequent illness. Keeping acid levels in check helps your good gut bacteria thrive and your immune system stay strong.
What color is stomach acid?
If you’ve ever wondered what color stomach acid is, you’re not alone. On its own, it’s usually clear. But when combined with bile or digestive enzymes (especially in situations where you're throwing up stomach acid) it may appear yellow or green. That’s a sign your body is under stress and may be struggling to keep digestive processes running smoothly.
How to Increase Stomach Acid Naturally
For those with low acid, there are gentle ways to support healthy production. Curious about how to increase stomach acid? Start by eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, and including mineral-rich foods. Some people benefit from a splash of apple cider vinegar before meals or the use of digestive bitters. Maral Salerno, one of Ann Arbor Holistic Health’s practitioners adds, “Ginger tea and aloe juice also help.” These strategies can help your stomach rebuild its natural acidity so digestion can run more smoothly.
What foods neutralize stomach acid immediately?
When you need relief, certain foods may help. If you’re wondering what foods neutralize stomach acid immediately, ginger tea, aloe or aloe juice. Maral Salerno, FDN-P also adds, “Ginger and aloe also build stomach acid.” Calming teas like chamomile may soothe the burn. These foods aren't stomach acid reducers, rather they soothe the esophagus and stomach. Using baking soda can be a bandaid fix because it can alkalize an acidic environment. Some people drink a teaspoon to a tablespoon with water. We don’t recommend this as a regular habit, as it goes against the very thing that you need, but it is a quick and natural solution in a pinch.
Should you take stomach acid medicine?
Over-the-counter options like antacids or stomach acid medicine can reduce symptoms quickly, but they aren’t meant for long-term use. In fact, using them too often may suppress acid production and lead to even more digestive issues. If you find yourself reaching for medication regularly, it’s time to ask why, and explore more sustainable support options with someone who can look at the whole picture.
Maral Salerno, FDN-P explains, “People are commonly put on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which suppress acid even more so in the interim they feel better, but eventually it doesn't work as well because it worsens the problem they already had, which is low stomach acid. Low stomach acid creates complete dysfunction of how the stomach should operate.”
Explore a Holistic Approach
If you're experiencing stomach acid reflux, GERD, bloating after meals, or that lingering sour feeling in your throat, your body may be signaling an imbalance that deserves attention. The right level of stomach acid plays a vital role not only in digestion, but also in nutrient absorption, microbial balance, and immune resilience. When acid is too low, symptoms can show up in subtle (or not-so-subtle) ways.
Our approach looks beyond the surface to understand why your symptoms are happening. We consider how digestion, stress, nutrition, and even sleep habits may be influencing your stomach acid levels. From functional testing to personalized lifestyle strategies, we help connect the dots so that you're not just managing symptoms — you're supporting your body in a way that feels aligned and sustainable.
If you're ready to stop guessing and start addressing the root causes, we’d love to talk. Book a free consult and let’s find out if stomach acid is playing a role in how you’re feeling, and what holistic steps can support your body in finding balance.
