What is stomach acid – HCL – good for?
The HCL Story Up until the late 1920’s and early 1930’s hydrochloric acid (HCL) was prescribed for many symptoms and conditions. After that time the medical establishment discontinued its common use. We are now beginning to understand the impact HCL can have on a person’s health. Numerous studies have shown that HCL secretion declines with advancing age. Once the stomach senses food, it secretes the hormone gastrin into the blood. Gastrin affects digestion in two ways: • It stimulates the secretion of HCL • It causes contraction of the muscles responsible for stomach motility. The gastric secretions in the stomach consist of protective mucus, pepsinogen, and HCl. Pepsin is the enzyme that digests food proteins. The functions of HCL: • converts pepsinogen to pepsin, thus induces protein digestion • keeps the stomach sterile against orally-ingested pathogens (parasites, bacteria, virus) • prevents bacterial or fungal overgrowth of the small intestine • stimulates the flow of bile and pan
