Stomach Acid Self Test
- Susan Davis Nutritionist
- Jul 10, 2025
- 5 min read
Who Should Consider A Stomach Acid Self Test
If your digestion has been less then optimal and you have some of the symptoms below you may wish to consider a stomach acid self test at home to determine if you have sufficient stomach acid levels to digest your foods properly. Having low stomach acid levels or production can have a massive impact on your gut health and digestion.
Signs and Symptoms Of Low Stomach Acid
Belching
Bloating
Gas
Diarrhoea
Reflux
Bad breath
Feeling full for a long time after eating
Not feeling hungry between meals
Tummy ache after protein rich foods
Why Is It Important To Have Good Stomach Acid Levels?
Why is this important? If your mouth is the first step in starting the digestive process (and I can argue that the thought of eating may be the first step that gets your digestion going!) by mechanical digestion where chewing the foods and moving it down the gut to the stomach. The stomach is the second important step where stomach acid is secreted to help break down the tight bonds in proteins by mixing and churning the food in the stomach. The high acidic environment in the stomach not only denatures proteins but also kills most pathogenic microbes keeping us safe from infections.
How To Do The Stomach Acid Self Test
The stomach acid self test is a test you can perform at home with a few simple ingredients. Baking Soda and water! The reason for recommending this test is get an indication if you have adequate stomach acid to help you digest your foods properly.
This test works by creating a chemical reaction within the stomach that occurs when OH- ions of the baking soda are mixed with the hydrogen (H+) ions within the bodies stomach acid (HCL). The natural results should be a carbon dioxide gas production which will cause a burping effect.
It is best to do the stomach acid self test first thing in the morning before eating or drinking. And best to do it for 3 days to check for false positives or negatives. Results may vary person to person.
How To Perform The Stomach Acid Home Test With Bicarbonate of Soda:
• Mix ¼ tsp of baking soda in 120-150ml of cold water, first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything
• Drink the baking soda solution
• Time how long it takes to burp (up to 5 minutes). In theory, if your stomach is producing adequate amounts of stomach acid, then you are likely to burp within 2 to 3 minutes, but if you have not burped within 5 minutes, then this would be a sign of insufficient stomach acid production
• If you have early and repeated burping, this may be due to too much stomach acid. However, it is important not to confuse these with small little burps from swallowing air when drinking the solution. Any burping after 3 minutes is an indication of low stomach acid levels and overall low HCL production.
• If you have not burped within 5 minutes, stop timing.
If your results suggest low stomach acid, have a look at my Consultations page for personalised help
A home stomach acid self test can also be performed with Betaine Hcl supplement however caution needs to be performed as too much stomach acid can be harmful to the stomach. Here is the basic recommendation however I would recommend you consult with your health care professional for guidance as to how to proceed and the interpretation of your results.
How To Test Your Stomach Acid Levels With Betaine Hcl:
Betaine Hcl is a stomach acid supplement and it is highly acidic. You must not open the capsule and you must swallow it whole with water. I do not recommend this test for children.
• Take one capsule of Betaine HCL after a couple mouthfuls of a main meal (a complex meal that contains protein and fat, not with a simple meal of mostly carbohydrates, such as salad, soup, or fruit) I recommend a protein source such as 6 ounces of steak (150-180 gr steak) for this test. Or a chicken breast. It is important to have quality protein in the meal.
• If you experience burning or indigestion after taking one capsule, this suggests that you have plenty of stomach acid, in which case you would stop this test. If the burning is uncomfortable buffer the acid with 1/2 tsp baking soda mixed in with 120 ml of water.
• If no burning occurs, you should proceed to the next step to determine how much Betaine HCL you potentially need. I recommend discussing this with your health care practitioner or myself as to how much betaine Hcl to supplement to support your digestion. It is important to note that taking multiple capsules of betaine Hcl may not be a good idea even if you do not experience a burning sensation, the later being a sign of too much stomach acid.
The maximum of Betaine Hcl I would recommend per protein containing meal is 1-2 capsules. This is usually sufficient for most people.
I don't recommend taking Betaine Hcl right at the beginning of a meal with no food in the stomach or right at the end of a meal after eating.
If you do not feel a burning sensation should you take more stomach acid supplements? No that may not be a good idea as some people no matter how many Betaine capsules they take will not feel any burning sensation. This is because the stomach lining is strong and in normal conditions you do not feel your stomach acid while you are digesting foods.
What Are The Consequences Of Low Stomach Acid?
Having low stomach acid levels, medical name Hypochlorhydria can lead to nutritional deficiencies along the signs and symptoms I have noted above. Some of the nutrients affected are iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and folic acid.
Having low stomach acid may also make it easier to get bacterial infections such as food poisoning, SIBO ( small intestinal bacterial infection) and further impaired digestive function. Not digesting proteins properly can lead to increase in putrefactive bacteria in the gut which is not desirable. You need adequate stomach acid to trigger the rest of your digestive processes and secretions to work optimally. These are pancreas, gall bladder and the brush border enzymes in the small intestine. Potentially it may lead to food sensitivities and a leaky gut. You can read more about leaky gut Understanding Leaky Gut: Causes, Symptoms, and Healing Options
Other factors to consider are having a low thyroid function or a Helicobacter Pylori infection can lower stomach acid production. Therefore it is advisable to work with your doctor or a health care practitioner to help you identify the root cause of your health condition.
Other Ways To Increase Stomach Acid Secretions:
Supplementing with digestive bitters before your meal may help with increasing stomach acid production and digestive secretions to help you digest your meals.
Having a shot of apple cider vinegar in a small amount of water at the beginning of a meal.
Taking a shot of pickle or ferment brine-after having gone through complete fermentation.
Eating fermented or pickled foods with your foods. Not directly increasing stomach acid levels however may help with digesting foods.
Take time out for eating!
Think about foods and eating. Your digestion starts in the mind!
Practice mindful eating savour each mouthful and chew well. This sends messages to your gut that food is coming to get it ready for digestion!
If you are suffering with stress take steps to tackle stress as stress is one of your gut health's worst enemy.
Want To Understand Your Digestion Better?
Doing the self-test is a great start — but tracking your daily symptoms, meals, and energy levels will help you see the full picture.
How did you get on with your stomach acid self test? Did the results surprise you? Are you still unsure about your results?
Book a free Gut Health Consultation Contact
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