Stomach Acid Level Test – HCl Tablets
Instructions

Testing should be undertaken during mealtime.

Start your meal by eating half of your meat/protein. Take the indicated dose
of HCl tablets before eating the other half of your meat/protein, then eat the
rest of your meal.
1. Begin by taking one 329 mg tablet of Betaine HCl with the protein portion of your
meal as directed above. A normal response in a healthy person with optimal
stomach acid levels would be discomfort—basically heartburn.
2. If you do not feel a warm sensation in your stomach, a bit like after drinking a hot
cup of tea, take two tablets with the protein portion of your meal, the next day.
3. If there is no warm sensation, take three tablets with the protein portion of your
meal the next day.
4. If there is no warm sensation at this dose, continue increasing the number of tablets
each day that you test as follows:
 Four tablets with the protein portion of your meal. If no warm sensation;
 Five tablets with the protein portion of your meal. If no warm sensation;
 Six tablets with the protein portion of your meal. If no warm sensation;
 Seven tablets with the protein portion of your meal. If no warm sensation;
 Eight tablets with the protein portion of your meal
Do not take more than eight tablets. These dosages may seem large, but a normally
functioning stomach manufactures considerably more. You’ll know you’ve taken too
much if you experience tingling, heartburn, diarrhea, or any type of discomfort
including a feeling of unease, digestive discomfort, neck ache, backache, headache,
or any new odd symptom. If you experience tingling, burning, or any symptom that is
uncomfortable, you can neutralise the acid with 1 teaspoon baking soda in water.
5. Once you have determined the number of tablets required to induce a warm
sensation in your stomach, take one less tablet then this dose at each meal going
forward (e.g. if it took five tablets for you to feel a warm sensation in your stomach,
your dose per meal would be four tablets.
6. Once you start to feel a warm sensation at your current dose, step back your dose by
one tablet per meal (e.g. if your dose is six tablets, and you start feeling a warm
sensation in your stomach when eating a meal, reduce your dose to five tablets per
meal).
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7. With smaller meals, you may require less HCl so you may reduce the amount of
capsules taken.
8. Individuals with moderate HCl deficiency generally show rapid improvement in
symptoms and have early signs of intolerance to the acid. This typically indicates a
return to normal acid secretion.
9. Individuals with low HCl/pepsin typically do not experience such quick improvement,
so to maximize the absorption and benefits of the nutrients you take, it is important
to be consistent with your HCl supplementation.
Precautions: Administration of HCl/pepsin is contraindicated in peptic ulcer disease. HCl
can irritate sensitive tissue and can be corrosive to teeth; therefore, capsules should not
be emptied into food or dissolved in beverages.
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