Heartburn Isn’t Always Too Much Acid… It’s Often Too Little

When you feel that burning in your chest after eating, it’s easy to assume you’ve got too much stomach acid. Cue the antacids, PPIs, and “don’t eat spicy food” advice.

But here’s the kicker: for many people in Salt Lake City and Utah County, heartburn is caused by low stomach acid, not high.

When stomach acid is low, food sits in your stomach longer than it should. That creates pressure, fermentation, and yes… acid reflux. The real problem isn’t too much acid, it’s poor digestion from not having enough. Long-term use of acid-blockers only makes it worse, leading to nutrient deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and magnesium), more bloating, and a higher risk of gut infections.

What most people don’t realize is that stomach acid plays a critical role in breaking down protein and absorbing minerals.

It also keeps bacteria in check… low acid lets bad bacteria overgrow, which adds even more gas and bloating to the mix. So if you’re relying on PPIs for months or years, you may be setting yourself up for fatigue, brain fog, and ongoing digestive problems.

Functional medicine looks at the why behind your symptoms, not just how to suppress them.

Restoring healthy stomach acid levels is often the first step to actually fixing reflux instead of just covering it up. Sometimes this means nutrition support, enzyme therapy, or addressing stress, since chronic stress is a sneaky cause of low stomach acid.

So… If you’re sick of chasing antacids around Salt Lake County, let’s run advanced gut testing and figure out what’s really driving your symptoms.

Book a consultation and get answers that actually stick.