Achlorhydria

Achlorhydria (or hypochlorhydria) is a condition wherein the stomach does not produce enough acid to maintain the proper pH in our bodies, control bacteria colonies, or fully digest the foods we eat. People who suffer from achlorhydria maintain a high pH of 6 or more (pH ranges from 0 to 14 with more alkalinity being represented by higher numbers; normal pH is between 7.35 and 7.45).

When the body’s pH levels rise above 4, it is far more likely to develop bacterial overgrowth that can make way for pathophysiological changes consistent with H. pylori infection and gastric atrophy, which can lay the foundation for the development of stomach cancer.

Living with reduced levels of acidity in the body can lead to:

  • Upper abdominal or central chest pain
  • Poor digestion of proteins in foods
  • Sensitivity to fatty foods, rich foods, and spicy foods
  • Mild diarrhoea
  • Bloating, belching, and excessive gas production
  • Bacterial overgrowth in the stomach
  • Halitosis
  • Poor absorption of vitamin B12 and other nutrients (anaemia)
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Auto immune disorders
  • Asthma and allergies
  • Osteoporosis (brittle bone disease)
  • Diabetes
  • Joint pain
  • Stomach cancer