The Blog at Erica Zellner Nutrition
The answer to that question is a resounding yes! When we think about constipation, we think about days upon days with pressure and pain in our bowels but no movement to relieve our suffering! And while that is definitely ONE version of constipation, it is far from the only one.
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) or stomach acid, is absolutely critical for proper digestion. Yet so many people I work with are unknowingly suffering from low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria). Without enough stomach acid, you can't digest protein and absorb minerals and certain vitamins like B12. One of the benefits of this highly acidic environment is that it helps keep the rest of the digestive tract more sterile. It’s difficult for pathogenic bacteria to survive in this acidic environment. If the acid level starts to fall (pH begins to rise), it can reduce the stomach’s ability to kill off pathogens.
