Acid reflux

Andrew Huberman has touched upon the topic of acid reflux and gut health in relation to maintaining proper gut chemistry for optimal brain and body function, particularly for those with auto-immune conditions. He explains that the gut needs to be more acidic than other tissues in order to function properly because bacteria thrive in alkaline conditions. Increasing the acidity in the gut can help reduce acid reflux, which is counterintuitive to some because the standard practice has been to take antacids for acid reflux. Antacids are designed to combat acid reflux symptoms by causing the upper gut sphincters to close, but this only deals with the symptoms and not the underlying cause. Adjusting the gut acidity has been found to be an effective method to ameliorate acid reflux 1.

In earlier years, the scientific and medical literature treated the importance of gut acidity differently, with communities recommending substances like hydrochloric acid (HCl) to adjust gut acidity. This practice was frowned upon, but later research showed that maintaining a more acidic gut could indeed treat acid reflux. Critics were urged to provide peer-reviewed studies when sharing their perspectives on gut acidity practices 2.

It is essential to consult with healthcare professionals before making any changes to gut chemistry or taking any supplements, especially because hydrochloric acid, even in supplement form, can cause burns and must be handled with care 2.