1,What is the role of stomach acid? What happens if there is an excess or a lack of stomach acid?

Dear Dr. Ngoc Diep! The stomach plays an important role in the human body, as a place to receive and store nutrients to metabolize food. Therefore, the health of the stomach also affects the entire body. First of all, what roles does stomach acid play? In case there’s an excess acid in the stomach or deficiency, what diseases will it lead to? Trước tiên xin hỏi BS, axit dạ dày có vai trò ra sao với sức khỏe? Khi axit trong dạ dày dư hoặc thiếu sẽ dẫn đến những bệnh nào?

Specialist Dr.2 Do Thi Ngoc Diep replied:

Stomach is one of the most important organs in the human digestive system. Every day, we need energy and nutrients to help the cells in our body function. From there, we can maintain life, improve the quality of life, keep the body healthy and prevent many diseases related to nutrition. Therefore, if the stomach has problems, it will definitely affect the supply of nutrients to the body.

Accordingly, the stomach plays many important roles such as:

• An organ involved in the metabolism of nutrients. In which, the process that takes place the most and plays the most important role in the stomach is protein metabolism.

• A place in which many essential nutrients are secreted, participating in the metabolism of substances.

• A place to store food to prepare for the next processes of metabolism and absorption.

Protect the body’s health, prevent infection through the digestive tract because the stomach contains stomach acid. The main role of stomach acid is to destroy bacteria that have entered the stomach through the digestive tract, including bacteria that cause infections in the stomach.

Gastric acid is essentially hydrochloric acid secreted by the parietal cells of the stomach. They are secreted continuously over time and when people eat, the stomach acid will secrete more. Hydrochloric acid helps cells in the stomach secrete Pepsinogen, which will be activated to convert to Pepsin – involved in the digestion of protein that we eat through food.

Without Pepsin, the body cannot digest protein, leading to a shortage of amino acids (substances involved in all functions of the human body and living cells).

Stomach acid when secreted will maintain the pH in the stomach between 1.6 – 2.4. This is a good physiological pH level to help protect the cells in the stomach and help the body stay healthy.

In case of excessive secretion of hydrochloric acid, the pH in the stomach will be lowered, causing damage to cells, especially cells in the stomach lining, which are already very fragile. Moreover, excess stomach acid will damage cells, cause inflammation and lead to many serious consequences such as:

• Gastrointestinal bleeding leads to acute as well as chronic blood loss and endangers human life.

• Chronic inflammation: can lead to cell mutations, make cells metabolise badly and become cancerous.

In case the pH in the stomach is not maintained at a physiological level because of the hydrochloric acid secreted too little, there will be consequences such as:

• Limiting the secretion of sodium – one of the very important substances, acting as a hormone that regulates the activities of stomach cells.

• When stomach pH is high, mucus will not be secreted much. Without mucus, food will not be digested well. At this time, very hard food will collide, and friction will damage the cells lining the stomach. From there, these lesions can lead to inflammation, ulcers, and even cancer.

It can be seen that excess or lack of stomach acid has a negative impact on health. Not only that, when stomach pH > 4, many types of bacteria, including HP (Helicobacter Pylori) will be more. Because they enter the stomach easily without being destroyed by acid, which leads to HP infection and ulcers. If so, a vicious circle will be created. Therefore, we need to try to maintain a stable stomach pH.

2.What are the causes of excess stomach acid?

In today's modern life, what is the cause of excess stomach acid and its symptoms? If the balance between acid and alkali in the body is not restored, what will happen?

Specialist Dr.2 Do Thi Ngoc Diep replied:

Thông thường, độ pH trong cơ thể sẽ giao động trong khoảng 7,34 – 7,44. Đây là pH kiềm giúp cơ thể hoạt động hiệu quả và các tế bào được bảo vệ tốt nhất. Nếu pH < 7,34, tức pH tụt xuống mức axit, sẽ gây ra nhiều tác động xấu tới các tế bào ở trong cơ thể. Bởi các tế bào trong cơ thể vốn dĩ không thể chịu được môi trường axit, dẫn đến các hậu quả như:

• Abnormal metabolic activities of organs in the body.

• Cells are damaged, inflamed, and lead to metabolic disorders and the production of chronic non-communicable diseases, some cancers.

People with metabolic acidosis due to diseases in the liver and kidneys will often lead to a high risk of tumor infection, even death.

On the contrary, if the pH is alkaline, it can still be toxic to the body. If the pH is too high, it will cause the body to become alkaline, leading to very unpredictable consequences for health. There are also unpredictable consequences of acid imbalance in the body.

Currently, in the period of industrialization, modernization and modern lifestyles, especially in big cities, stomach acid imbalance occurs more due to many reasons:

• Có chế độ dinh dưỡng không điều độ, lạm dụng bia rượu và uống quá nhiều nước giải khát có gas hay chứa nhiều đường.

• Consuming a lot of foods with ingredients that are high in salt, sugar... all of these foods create an acidic environment that damages cells in the stomach lining.

• Consumption of some foods that increase secretion and stimulate hydrochloric acid causes imbalance.

In short, factors such as improper nutrition, alcohol use, moderation in daily life, stress, lack of physical activity, pH imbalance in the stomach, etc. will lead to infection. and increase the level of growth of H. pylori bacteria that cause stomach ulcers.

As for stomach acid, they have a pH between 1 and 2. This indicates it is quite acidic (Artwork)

3.What role does natural alkaline mineral water play in balancing stomach acid?

Presently, natural alkaline mineral water is gradually becoming a trendy drink that many people love to help reduce acidity in the body and reduce the risk of diseases. So what are the benefits of natural alkaline mineral water and what are these uses due to?

Specialist Dr.2 Do Thi Ngoc Diep replied:

It can be seen that what comes from nature carries the most suitable thing for human physiology. Accordingly, natural alkaline mineral water provides us various benefits, which can be mentioned as:

• We need water to maintain plenty of our bodily functions. All chemical reactions depend on water. For example, the stomach will secrete gastric juice that can be up to 1.5 liters when we start each meal, and when not eating, about 50ml. In particular, the main component in gastric juice is water.

• Naturally derived, containing a number of minerals, electrolytes, and ions, all of which have constructive effects on health.

The utmost condition while exploiting natural mineral water is its depth. Exploiting natural mineral water as long as possible means the deeper you drill, the better. Of course, it can’t be drilled everywhere, yet the mining site must meet the following factors:

• The exploitation source must be completely safe and hygienic, ensuring the minimum distance from the extraction point to residential areas, industrial and agricultural production zones, etc.

• The mining source must be a mineral source created during the long-term underground formation.

To get alkaline pH, usually these types of water must be extracted from extremely deep in the ground, measured, calculated, and disinfected to ensure safety, hygiene and maintain the natural source of minerals and electrolytes. The interaction between these substances would create a much better alkaline pH than artificial. That is also the reason why many people are interested in using natural alkaline mineral water.

The supply of natural alkaline mineral water should meet the following objectives:

• Water supply.

• Provide minerals derived entirely from nature.

• Balance minerals, including: Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Manganese.

• Alkaline pH helps regulate pH in the stomach, facilitating better digestion and absorption of nutrients. At the same time, it helps the chemical reactions to digest food such as the secretion of enzymes, mucus, pepsin, and sodium better, helping the digestive functions to be perfected.
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• 4.What are the benefits of natural alkaline mineral water for people with stomach diseases?

  Many people with gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastritis believe that the use of natural alkaline mineral water is an advantage, helping to suppress acid in the stomach effectively.

  Please explain more clearly, the benefits of natural alkaline mineral water in the treatment of stomach diseases, supporting the digestive system? When using on people with stomach disease, what should be noted?

  Specialist Dr.2 Do Thi Ngoc Diep replied:

  If we have any symptoms related to gastrointestinal disorders, we should absolutely not be subjective. Therefore, the first important thing we need to do is go to medical facilities to be examined, diagnosed and properly applied the instructions of the treating doctor.For example, the treating doctor will give the patient antibiotics to kill the bacteria that cause stomach disease (such as HP), or use drugs to reduce acid secretion in the stomach or use drugs that inhibit secretion and cause disorders in the stomach itself, the gastrointestinal tract.

  For example, the treating doctor will give the patient antibiotics to kill the bacteria that cause stomach disease (such as HPor use drugs to reduce acid secretion in the stomach or use drugs that inhibit secretion and cause disorders in the stomach itself, the gastrointestinal tract.

  In addition, we can also use atural alkaline mineral water to support the treatment of these diseases. If your disease is due to excessive gastric acid secretion, stomach pH is too low, you can prioritize using natural alkaline mineral water to partially assist in neutralizing acid, helping to protect cells in the gastrointestinal tract.

  Besides, natural alkaline mineral water also works to support the secretion of pepsinogen to produce pepsin to help digest protein, minimizing symptoms of bloating after meals. At the same time, supporting the stomach to secrete sodium, helping to regulate the pH in the stomach. Therefore, if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, stomach ulcers and have been guided by a doctor for diagnosis and treatment, you can use natural alkaline mineral water to support.

  However, in some cases of patients suffering from diseases or in the process of using drugs where the pH is at a higher level than the physiological part, alkaline mineral water should not be used during treatment.

  We should not think of natural alkaline mineral water as a medicine, but adding water is just a way to help support treatment. This is a solution to help provide water to have more minerals, ions, and electrolytes, to help minimize pH imbalance in the stomach. At the same time, if mineral water contains mineral ions (+), it will support against free radicals, protect the mucosal cells of the digestive tract in the stomach, small intestine or large intestine.

Natural alkaline mineral water has many minerals necessary for health (Illustration)

5.What is the difference between natural alkaline mineral water and artificial alkaline water?

The problem is, many people still confuse the concept between types of alkaline water. Thanks for a better explanation, what is natural alkaline mineral water? What is the difference between natural alkaline mineral water and artificial alkaline mineral water?

Specialist Dr.2 Do Thi Ngoc Diep replied:

There are two basic types of alkaline mineral water: natural alkaline mineral water and artificial alkaline mineral water.

Natural alkaline mineral water must originate from nature and ensure the following conditions:

• The pH must be alkaline.

• Natural exploitation is required and only treatment interventions are allowed to ensure clean water.

• Do not interfere with the addition of minerals, electrolytes or pH adjustment by devices.

However, not all natural alkaline mineral water is the same in all sources. Some sources will have very good levels of minerals, electrolytes, and pH. The most important thing, after being discovered, exploited, measured and analyzed, it will be prioritized for selection.

For artificial alkaline mineral water, it will normally be created as follows:

People will use ordinary water (maybe from a water body or clean water source), then pass through the cores to replenish the natural minerals that are available in the water but have been filtered out.

This return compensation will vary by manufacturer. Next, to switch from the pH of normal water to an alkaline pH, one must use electrodes for electrolysis to change the pH. That is also the reason why it is called artificial alkaline mineral water. The life of the machine is usually not long, so if we want to maintain the minerals and pH in artificial devices, we must maintain the machine regularly.

6.Choose alkaline mineral water, how much pH will be good for stomach health?

It is known that alkaline water has many different pH levels. Thus, what does the pH in alkaline water mean? What pH threshold will achieve maximum benefits for the stomach in particular and for health in general?

Specialist Dr.2 Do Thi Ngoc Diep replied:

According to studies, there is no optimal pH level, this will depend on the human body.

Normally, the body’s pH fluctuates between 7.34 – 7.44. If the pH is > 7.5 then the water has reached an alkaline level. Currently, there are many types of alkaline water with pH levels in the range of 8 – 10. In which, pH in the range of 8 – 9 is quite good for our daily water use.

At the same time, people with stomach or duodenal or gastrointestinal diseases that are mainly caused by pH imbalance can choose water with pH = 9. However, we ought not to choose water with alkaline pH level too high (pH > 10) because it will not be beneficial for daily use.

You should drink water regularly, being too dehydrated isn’t recommended. You should drink 100-200ml of water every 1-2 hours (Illustration)

7.Using natural alkaline mineral water every day is redundant or toxic?

As the doctor just shared, not only pH, natural alkaline mineral water also accumulates natural alkaline minerals such as Acid Metacilicid (H2SiO3), bicarbonate (HCO3), calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium …₂SiO₃), bicarbonate (HCO3), canxi, natri, kali, magie…

What do these minerals do? Many people concerned about the daily use of natural alkaline mineral water may be excessive which is on the contrary, toxic to health?

Specialist Dr.2 Do Thi Ngoc Diep replied:

With natural alkaline mineral water or mineral water, most of us can use it every day. Because the mineral content in these types of water is not high, especially natural waters.

However, there are still some people should not use natural alkaline mineral water. Those are ones with metabolic diseases (eg, people with diseases affecting kidney function, some liver diseases) or other endocrine disorders… These cases should be examined, treated and made specific recommendations. Other cases, most of us can completely use natural mineral water every day, providing the body with minerals, electrolytes, …

Therefore, readers should not be too worried when using natural alkaline mineral water because this type of water does not cause mineral overload at all.

For example, the recommended calcium requirement for an adult is 1,000mg of calcium per day. Meanwhile, the amount of calcium in 1 liter of mineral water will range from 2.5 to 3mg of calcium, but we only need to drink 2-3 liters of water per day. Similarly, other minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus … in water also contain very little, for that reason being overloaded is impossible. Thus, we do not need to worry that drinking natural alkaline mineral water will harm the body.

However, using natural alkaline mineral water is not intended to provide the body with the recommended amount of calcium and minerals. Drinking natural alkaline water only helps to add minerals, other organic acids and bicarbonate (which is a very good ion that is alkaline).

In short, we can completely use natural alkaline mineral water for daily use without the anxiety of overloading or causing damage to the body. Besides, for stronger bones, in addition to calcium supplements, we also need to add phosphorus, magnesium, manganese and many other minerals. Therefore, the primary benefit from these mineral complexes is better bone mineralization.

In addition, ions such as magnesium, manganese also participate in the activity of neuromuscular cells, helping us to be physically active and better in muscle movement. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus are also involved in the body’s immune system. Thus, all nutrients hold a primary role and at the same time have roles that interact with each other.

In natural alkaline mineral water, it also contains a number of organic acids that play a great role for the body such as participating in the process of supporting probiotics in the intestines to work effectively, strengthening the immune system.

>>> Natural alkaline mineral water helps lose weight, detoxifies the body due to alcohol, hot spicy food?

8.Natural alkaline mineral water – The optimal solution to protect the stomach

Excess stomach acid not only makes us uncomfortable but also affects our health in the long run.

– Hence, what solutions do we have to prevent this situation?

– Many readers watching the program on AloBacsi expressed: Do not wait until there is a new-coming disease, yet instead prevent stomach diseases by drinking Vikoda natural alkaline mineral water.

According to MC Diem Loan, the origin of Vikoda is a precious mineral water source in the famous land of Dien Khanh, Khanh Hoa. Dr. Diep is also an expert who regularly travels to many regions of Vietnam.

Have you been to Khanh Hoa yet and can you share more information about this natural mineral water source for the audience to expand their knowledge?

Specialist Dr.2 Do Thi Ngoc Diep replied:

We know that prevention is always better than cure. If we are well-prevented, we will reduce psychological stress, reduce pain in our body. Our quality of life, family happiness, and socio-economic development also depend on disease prevention.

Accordingly, if we want to improve the condition of excess stomach acid, we must do the following things:

• Practice a balanced and reasonable diet, and minimize the consumption of acidic foods.

• Minimize alcohol consumption.

• Limit the use of soft drinks containing a lot of sugar and gas.

• Limit the use of stimulants, including stimulant spices that increase gastric secretion in the stomach.

• Develop a mode of moderate living, including:
  • Eat on time.
  • In case you have to work overtime, it is necessary to supplement with snacks to protect the stomach lining. Because when the stomach is empty for too long, it will increase the secretion of acid in the stomach. At the same time, the protective mechanism of the stomach is also affected.

• Regular periodic health check for timely detection.

Besides, we need to replenish water regularly and appropriately. Priority should be given to choosing natural mineral water or if possible, natural alkaline mineral water should be used. Or we can also alternately use 50% of normal water and 50% of natural alkaline mineral water.

In the daily menu should have soup. We should also eat foods that contain a lot of water such as gourds, squash, vegetables…, fruits because they are all alkaline foods. If you make sure to eat 400g/day and eat fruit about 100-200g/day, it will help provide alkalinity for the body and protect the stomach.

I have had the opportunity to visit Khanh Hoa many times. This land has the advantage of owning natural mineral resources, which people can take advantage of to exploit natural alkaline mineral water. Accordingly, if mineral water is exploited and bottled at the source, it is certainly very good for users. Therefore, people in Khanh Hoa should also take advantage of what nature bestows. The exploitation of water does not use additive technology – changing the composition that natural alkaline mineral water already has, so we can use it with complete peace of mind.