Reflux, Heartburn & Digestive Issues

Is It Really Too Much Stomach Acid… Or Not Enough?

Reflux and heartburn are so common now that many people just learn to live with them. And alongside this, there’s a message we hear time and time again:

“You have too much stomach acid.”

But what if that isn’t actually the case?

Practitioners such as Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride, along with traditional food advocates like Sally Fallon, have long questioned this idea. From an ancestral perspective, many digestive complaints—including reflux—are more often linked to too little stomach acid, not too much.

This might seem surprising, especially when reflux quite literally feels like acid rising up the chest. But when we understand how digestion is meant to work, it begins to make much more sense.

A healthy human stomach is designed to be highly acidic, with a pH of around 1.5–2. This level of acidity is not a flaw—it’s essential. In fact, it’s comparable to scavenger animals like vultures, whose strong stomach acid allows them to safely break down food and protect themselves from harmful microbes.

This acidity plays a crucial role in digestion. It helps us break down proteins properly, absorb key nutrients such as iron and B12, and acts as a powerful defence against unwanted bacteria and pathogens. It also sends important signals further down the digestive tract, ensuring everything moves along as it should.

When stomach acid is low, this process begins to falter. Food isn’t broken down efficiently and can sit in the stomach longer than it should. Over time, it starts to ferment, creating gas and pressure. This pressure pushes upwards against the valve at the top of the stomach—the lower oesophageal sphincter—which is designed to stay closed during digestion.

Instead of remaining shut, it’s forced open.

When that happens, stomach contents—including acid—rise into the oesophagus, leading to the familiar burning sensation we call reflux or heartburn.

So while it feels like there’s too much acid, what we’re often experiencing is acid in the wrong place, driven by a lack of proper digestion further down.

From a conventional perspective, the usual approach is to reduce or neutralise stomach acid with medications. While this can provide temporary relief, it doesn’t address the underlying issue. In fact, lowering stomach acid even further can make digestion less efficient over time, reduce nutrient absorption, and contribute to a deeper imbalance in the gut.

While medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), including Omeprazole, are often prescribed to reduce stomach acid and can provide short-term relief, they don’t address the underlying cause of digestive issues. In fact, long-term use may contribute to further imbalance in the body.

Stomach acid plays a vital role in breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and protecting us from harmful microbes. When this acid is continually suppressed, it can impact the absorption of key nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, calcium and magnesium, and can alter the natural balance of bacteria in the gut.

Some people also report ongoing digestive symptoms, increased susceptibility to infections, and a reliance on the medication over time. From a more holistic and ancestral perspective, the aim is not simply to silence symptoms, but to gently support the body in restoring its natural digestive function.

If you are currently taking medication, it’s important that any changes are made with the guidance of your GP or healthcare provider.

This is something observed by Weston A. Price during his travels studying traditional cultures. He found that populations eating their native, nutrient-dense diets had strong digestion and were largely free from the chronic digestive complaints that are now so widespread.

Rather than suppressing symptoms, these cultures supported digestion through the way they ate and lived. Simple practices can make a meaningful difference. Slowing down and eating in a relaxed state allows the body to properly prepare for digestion. Including naturally fermented foods such as sauerkraut or kefir can help support digestive function, while nutrient-dense foods like meat stocks—central to the GAPS approach—provide the building blocks needed to heal and seal the gut lining.

Even small habits, such as avoiding large amounts of fluid with meals or including something slightly bitter before eating, can gently encourage the body to produce the digestive juices it needs.

For some people, these changes can bring noticeable relief quite quickly. For others, especially where symptoms have been present for years, healing may take a little longer and require more structured support. But the important thing to remember is this: the body is not working against you. These symptoms are messages—signs that something deeper needs attention.

And when we begin to support the body in a way that aligns with how it was designed to function, things can start to shift.

If you’re experiencing ongoing reflux or digestive discomfort and feel you’d benefit from some support, you’re very welcome to get in touch. I offer a free 20-minute discovery call—simply a chance for us to connect, see if I’m the right fit for you, and explore how I might support you moving forward. You can contact me here.

This information is shared for educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you are taking medication, please speak with your GP before making any changes.