What happens when the acid level in the stomach is high?

To digest the food we eat, our stomach produces 2.5 to 3 liters of hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid brings two key benefits: Firstly, it breaks down food substances into very fine particles. Secondly, it helps kill microbes present in the food. Maintaining a healthy pH level for hydrochloric acid, ideally between 0.8 to 1.2, is crucial.

In a healthy person, the stomach usually maintains this pH level. Hydrochloric acid is highly acidic as it needs to break down food particles finely. It literally turns food particles into paste. Harmful microbes can enter the stomach, but hydrochloric acid's strength should eliminate them.

Thus, the stomach's hydrochloric acid needs to be very acidic to achieve these benefits. Some individuals produce 3 to 4 liters of hydrochloric acid instead of the usual 2.5 to 3 liters. Excessive production can lead to various problems in the stomach. Initially, discomfort arises due to this excess acid production.

Let's discuss the problems associated with excessive acid production today.

It can lead to ulcers, a burning sensation in the stomach, and the release of excessive acid through burps. Irritation in the esophagus and a burning sensation in the throat can also occur due to acid reflux. Now, let's understand why acid production sometimes exceeds the necessary levels.

Hydrochloric acid is necessary, but excessive production becomes harmful. I'll tell you simple comparison to tell you how acidic the hydrochloric acid is. Usually certain kinds of strong acids are used to clean the commodes in the toilet. These acids can burn the skin if they come into contact.

Our stomach produces hydrochloric acid with a similar acidic strength. Its acidity stays between 0.8 pH to 1.2 pH. Even if this strong acid falls on the skin, it can cause burns. For some individuals, there's an excessive production of hydrochloric acid by 1 to 1.5 liters. The primary reason for excessive acid production is drinking water while eating.

Many use antacids to get instant relief from issues like ulcers, a burning sensation in the stomach, ulcerative colitis, Acid Reflux, and irritation in the esophagus. Usually, antacids in tablet or tonic form are used. All the antacid medicines you use provide just a temporary solution.

After a while, the acid production will increase as usual. Usually, if you take water while eating, it will dilute the hydrochloric acid in the stomach. When water mixes up with the hydrochloric acid, its acidic strength will decrease. Ideally, the pH of hydrochloric acid should be between 0.8 to 1.2.

When you drink about 1 to 1.5 glasses of water while eating, it will increase up to 2 PH.

The pH of the acid has increased, which means its acidity strength reduced. Some people, along with the meal, take buttermilk or rasam that has a lot of water. This will further reduce the acidity of the hydrochloric acid from 2 to 2.5. The hydrochloric acid pH, supposed to be 0.8, will go from 8 to 2.5.

When the acidic strength reduces, there will be no proper digestion or killing of harmful microbes. In order to digest the food and kill harmful microbes, the acidic strength should be ideal. Like I mentioned, it should be between 0.8 pH to 1.2 pH. When you drink water while eating, the acidic strength reduces as it becomes diluted.

(Also Read - How can I reduce gas in my digestive system?)

In order to increase the acidic strength, the stomach will produce more acid. So, for people who drink water while eating, the acidic production will increase by 0.25 to 0.5 liters. This way, the stomach will increase the acidic strength of the acid to digest the food. The main reason for excessive acid production is drinking water while eating.

Also, drinking buttermilk and rasam or soups high in water. All these foods increase excessive acid secretion. We are taking medicine to reduce acid production while making these mistakes. Try not to drink water when eating; acids are produced in the intestines to digest the food.

Do not dilute the acid; Drink water in advance to avoid thirstiness during your meal.

Drink two to two and a half liters of water in the morning after waking up. When the acid is not present in the stomach, the water enters the blood, and the water reserve is full. You do not have to drink water during breakfast. Acid is produced in limited amounts to digest breakfast. Only a sufficient amount of acid is produced.

As we stopped drinking water which is the reason for the production of excess acid. As the acid is not diluted, it digests the food and stops secretion. Avoid drinking water until 2 hours after having breakfast. After 2 hours, periodically drink a glass of water. The role of stomach acid is complete.

Water helps clean any remaining acid on the stomach walls. Cleaning this acid prevents stomach burns. So, avoid water during meals. Drink water only two hours after eating regularly. Many people have been following this water-drinking practice for 30 years. They've achieved the best results with this technique.

Properly hydrate before meals to avoid feeling thirsty while eating. Refrain from drinking water until two hours after eating a meal. Adequate acid production will be utilized for digestion. The digestive work of acid concludes within two hours. Begin drinking water, a glass at a time, after this period.

Now I'll explain How to Get Relief.

Most of you love to eat. You have a habit of eating whatever you see from childhood. You take breakfast and eat something again before lunch. You also eat snacks after lunch regardless of hunger. Again at night you will have dinner without hunger. Then, watch TV and eat something else.

The habit of eating frequently every 2 to 3 hours, is the main cause of "hyper acidity" which is the biggest problem today. This is the main cause of acid reflux. Frequent eating can also lead to irritation and intestinal ulcers.

Let me tell you the reason why eating often can cause acidity?

A strong acid called hydrochloric acid is released, in the stomach to help digest food. This acid is similar to the acid we use to clean toilets. The same kind of acid is produced in our stomach too. Food is broken down and digested only if strong acid is released.

So, The strong acid digests the food into smaller particles. If any harmful microbes enter the body through the mouth along with food, they will die in the stomach due to acid. Hence, it is needed for the stomach to produce very strong acid. About 2 liters of hydrochloric acid should be produced in the stomach daily.

Which is considered healthy. However, you take bed coffee as soon as you wake up. Then you eat breakfast and have tea or biscuits at 10 or 11 o’ clock. After all this you will not miss the lunch. For people who eat once every 2 to 3 hours, the acid must be produced continuously.

As soon as the acid work is done, you will eat something, so it should start producing again. Acid production, which begins with bed coffee at 6 or 7 a.m, continues until 4 a.m. the next day for food to be digested. So, the acid is produced throughout the day and causes irritation in the stomach lining. The strength of the acid creates burning sensation in the stomach. 

If acid is constantly produced, it will lead to constant irritation in the stomach. The more you eat, the more acid is secreted over a longer period of time. This irritation causes burning sensation in the stomach. So, if you get a burp, you will feel the burning sensation in the food pipe. All this is caused by acid reflux .

Not a single animal in nature suffers from acidity or ulcers. Let me tell you why?

Crows have babies, storks have babies and all birds have babies. They collect food and feed their children. The mother bird feeds the young birds until they can fly. They collect food as long as there is sunlight and feed the children. The mother bird does not fly after 6 pm in the dark.

They cannot fly until sunrise the next morning. Do you think the baby will eat something until the next morning? No it will not. It eats nothing for about 12 hours. Diurnal animals rest at night, and nocturnal animals rest in the morning. Animals that eat during the day do not produce acid in their stomachs.

Stomach linings are cleansed and automatic cleaning contractions occur. Areas damaged due to irritation become healthy and are cleaned after repair. With this, the stomach is ready for digestion in the next few days. Most of you eat at 7 or 8 o'clock at night, eat again at 10 o'clock at night and do the same for your children and also drink coffee at 4 'o clock or 5 'o clock in the morning.

Plus, you watch TV at midnight and eat something. With this, acid secrets contentiously whole day and irritates the stomach. That is why many of you suffer from acidity. Hence, eating constantly is not a good habit. If you have breakfast in the morning, do not eat anything until noon. To digest the food you eat till 8 am in the morning, acid is produced in the stomach till 10 am.

The food is broken down and digested and also the harmful microbes die.

This digested food is excreted along with the acid. Once the food in the stomach is emptied, the acid is no longer needed and hence its production stops. So there will be no irritation in the stomach. Acid production in the stomach does not occur until 2 p.m. This gap helps to cleanse the stomach and repair the lining, that has been irritated and damaged due to acid.

Only then does the stomach prepare to digest the food for the afternoon. Then you will not have ulcers or inflammation in the stomach, as there is no excess acid secretion. When you eat too much, more than 3 liters of acid is produced, which is unbearable by the stomach lining. So you are required to use medications to prevent acidity.

Some of you also take antacids to get relief from acidity as shown in the ads. The solution to acidity is to give a gap until afternoon after the breakfast. Drink water 2 hours after breakfast. If you eat continuously, you will not have time to drink water. So take breakfast before 8 am and start drinking water regularly after 10 am.

This water washes away the acid on the stomach walls and will make your stomach lining acid free. Do not drink water during lunch.and do not eat anything until 6pm after the lunch. 2 hours after a meal, start drinking one glass of water each time. The stomach washes away the acid and the lining returns to normal from irritation.

This will get rid of acidity, ulcers and acid reflux. After dinner, do not eat anything until 8 or 9 o'clock the next morning. Young birds eat only when the mother bird feeds them. So, they do not eat anything for 12 hours with the mother. They do not suffer from acidity or ulcers and do not visit a gastroenterologist. Eating without a gap is unhealthy, eating with a gap is healthy.

Conclusion:

When you eat, you tend to feed your children too at mid night. This is a very bad habit. It is not good to destroy your own health. Do not make the same mistake as eating often. I request you to think about your health and adopt healthy habits.