But is it really too much acid that is the problem - or is it having TOO LITTLE ACID?  Many of the people that come to see me are surprised when after hearing their health problems, I suggest their digestive processes are struggling and that they actually need “more acid in their stomach at the right time” - and that is the key.

Often when I suggest lemon juice - they say  - yes they have that - in hot water when they get up in the morning!  Wrong.  That may help to get your bowels moving but we need more acid in our stomachs when the food is there.  This primes the whole of the digestive process to get ready to do its bit when the food arrives.  Straight lemon juice - as much as you feel comfortable with - undiluted!  Other options are apple cider vinegar, hydrochloric acid tablets or even straight apple juice will help - take a teaspoon up to quarter of a cup immediately prior to each meal, with the meal or it will still work afterwards if you forgot to take it and now have problems with reflux or indigestion.  The extra acid enables the sphincter at the top of the stomach to close - and the job begin.  The process of digestion turns the extra acid into alkaline so this is not a problem.  I have had quite a few phone calls from people surprised to find this works.  [If nothing else to hand, Coca cola will do the same job, particularly if taken with your mineral supplements.]

Below are some other useful quotes

Can You Pass the (Stomach) Acid Test?
by Andrew Rubman, ND, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Connecticut.

We already know that a diet full of too much sugary stuff - particularly the refined sugars found in candy and soda and refined grains like white rice and white flour -- may lead to serious health problems such as obesity and diabetes. But many people are unaware that too much sugar in their diet can also cause another less talked-about condition -- low stomach acid. This is because the by-products of fermentation can impair proper levels of acid production in the stomach.

Relying on these foods for fuel is like putting low-grade gasoline in a car that requires mid-grade or premium, Daily Health News consulting medical editor Andrew Rubman, ND, told me. "Excess sugar may ferment, thereby feeding the growth of yeasts and bacteria. The result is poor digestion, which can lead to fatigue, mood imbalances, nausea and system-wide disease states consistent with malnutrition," he said.  Ultimately everything in the body -- muscle, bone, central nervous system and cardiovascular function -- is affected.

CRITICAL TO YOUR HEALTH
Stomach acid, or hydrochloric acid, activates digestive pepsinogen that helps your body break down food.
Dr Rubman explained that the stomach needs to maintain a very acidic mid-meal environment, with an average basal pH of 2.16 in men and 2.79 in women. "That's acidic enough to dissolve a pea-sized meatball in 20 seconds," he says. Food doesn't digest properly if your stomach has insufficient acidity, or a pH that is too high. The results - gas, bloating, belching, diarrhoea or constipation - are not pleasant.

According to Dr Rubman, approximately one-third of American adults over age 40 have less than optimal amounts of stomach acid, which many experts blame on poor diet, based on too many refined carbohydrates. These foods promote the unchecked growth of micro-organisms in the gastrointestinal tract, triggering inflammation and excessive mucus secretion, and preventing the cells in the gut from producing acid in quantities adequate for digestion. Regular use of the many acid-suppressing medications or taking too many other medications (prescription and over-the-counter) can also hinder your stomach's ability to produce enough acid - as can aging. The result is an inability to absorb needed nutrients, and as explained above, a digestive system that can't control the growth of harmful bacteria and yeast.

REPLENISHING YOUR STOMACH ACID
If you experience gassiness and bloating, discomfort after eating, or notice that you have brittle nails, the root cause may be low stomach acid. While a conventional doctor would likely address each symptom separately, a naturopathic doctor, or ND, is more apt to recognize and successfully treat the condition of low stomach acid itself, says Dr Rubman. Barring a medical condition such as stomach ulcer, he and others with his training and outlook will generally recommend a plant-based digestive enzyme to help restore the stomach's ability to produce acid.  Limit refined sugars and include more moderate and low-glycemic index carbohydrates, such as most fruits and vegetables and legumes, seeds, nuts and beans. Prescribing a probiotic to encourage the growth of healthy bacteria, if indicated from testing, may also be helpful. (This may involve taking a series of different beneficial bacteria supplements, but your physician will provide details.) And finally, try to eat three times a day, without snacking, and incorporate reasonable amounts of healthy fats and fibre into your diet, which will promote appropriately timed and more complete digestion.