Stomach acid is also known as gastric acid. It is secreted in the stomach and helps to digest the food that an individual has taken. The level of gastric acid in the stomach is controlled automatically by the body. Too little or too much of it will lead to digestive disorders which may be in the form of stomach bloating, burping or belching, flatulence, etc. Doctors treat digestive disorders through medications. One of the common ways that doctors try to deal with such sort of a problem is by prescribing proton pump inhibitors.
As a remedy, doctors prescribe antacids that help to alleviate the symptoms. It will neutralize the stomach acids and give temporary relief. Another class of drugs that help in controlling are Proton pump inhibitors. They are a group of drugs that help in reducing the stomach acid level.
Therefore, the amount of calcium in the body is reduced. When the body requires calcium, it will draw from teeth and bones. This results in osteoporosis which is a disease condition. The bone mineral density is reduced making the bones brittle and prone to fractures.
Besides that horrible side effect, the drugs stop our digestive system from digesting our foods in a timely fashion, and the longer your food stays in your stomach the more stomach pressure and problems you will have. Although there are many different conditions that can cause stomach acid problems the most common cause is being overly acidic.
A poor diet combined with several stress factors will also alter the level of stomach acid there by resulting in gastric problems. Consumption of meat and spicy foods will increase acidity in the stomach. Less intake of fruits and vegetables will also impair the stomach acid level. This will ultimately lead to gastritis which is very painful and causes uncomfortable sensations in the individuals.
One of the tests for determining acidity is by using the litmus paper. This can be done at home. Litmus paper is available at all health food stores.
The final test result should be around a value of 7.3 to 7.4 which is slightly alkaline. The suitable timings of tests are in the mornings and evenings.