How to Check Hydrochloric Acid Levels

You need hydrochloric acid in order to digest your food and absorb nutrients. No matter how much you eat, you can become malnourished if your body lacks hydrochloric acid. Hypochlohydria is the lack of hydrochloric acid, which can appear in the form of gas, belching, diarrhea, poor appetite and constipation, as well as autoimmune diseases. Although hypochlohydria can happen at any age, if you are over 50 or have food allergies, you may have low levels of hydrochloric acid.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• 8-oz. glass
• Cold water
• Timer
• Clock (optional)
• Betaine hydrochloride

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Instructions

Baking Soda Test

• 1

  Stir 1/4 tsp. baking soda into an 8-oz. glass of cold water as soon as you wake up in the morning. Ensure you do not eat or drink anything. Mix the baking soda and water thoroughly.

• 2

  Drink all of the water and baking soda solution, then use a timer or clock to see how long it takes for you to belch.

• 3

  Stop timing when 5 minutes have passed. If you belched in 2 to 3 minutes, your stomach produces enough hydrochloric acid. Your stomach has low hydrochloric acid if you have not belched within the 5 minutes. Repeated belching early during this test means your stomach may be producing too much hydrochloric acid.

Touch Test

• 4

  Locate the area on your lowest rib about 1 inch away from the right or left side of your midsection.

• 5

  Press on this midsection area with your fingers. You may have a hydrochloric acid deficiency if you feel tenderness or pain when pressing this part of your body.

• 6

  Take one to six capsules of the supplement Betaine hydrochloride at the beginning of every meal each day to help your body digest food properly.

• 7

  Stop taking Betaine supplements when you can press the same midsection area without discomfort.