Part 2 of 2
Last week, Dr. Rachel Shuck explored why nutrient absorption matters and the important role stomach acid plays in digestion.
In this second and final installment, she shares common habits that may impair digestion, practical strategies to support nutrient absorption, and a real-world example of how addressing digestive function can impact overall health.
Here are the three most common ways I see people inadvertently lower their stomach acid and reduce nutrient absorption.
1. Avoiding Quality Salt
The first way many people end up with low stomach acid is by avoiding good-quality salt in their diet.
A quality salt contains both trace minerals and some of the primary minerals, including sodium chloride.
Chloride is one of the raw materials the body uses to produce stomach acid—which we know is essential for digestion (hence hydroCHLORIC acid).
Please note, I am not referring to the heavily processed table salt commonly found in processed foods and many restaurants.
Whenever possible, I recommend choosing minimally processed, mineral-rich salts instead.
2. Drinking Large Amounts of Water with Meals
The second pattern I’ve noticed with clients is that they drink a lot of water during meals instead of between meals.
It doesn’t sound like a big deal.
But if your stomach acid is already weak, diluting it with large amounts of water during a meal may make digestion even less efficient.
A simple strategy is to focus on hydration between meals and minimize large amounts of fluid during meals.
3. Long-Term Use of Acid-Suppressing Medications
The third way I commonly see people unintentionally impair stomach acid production is through the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antacids, and H2 blockers.
These medications can be incredibly helpful and appropriate in certain situations. However, when used long-term, they may also reduce the body’s ability to properly break down food and absorb nutrients.
If you’re not properly breaking down food, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Gas
- Fatigue
- Nutrient deficiencies
And you may find yourself wondering why your supplements aren’t working as expected.
A Real-World Example of Better Nutrient Absorption
One of my clients came to me struggling with hair loss and chronic fatigue.
Her lab work revealed an iron deficiency, which is not uncommon to see in women experiencing these kinds of symptoms.
Instead of immediately turning to iron supplementation, our strategy focused on improving digestion and supporting her body’s ability to absorb the nutrients she was already consuming.
One of the first things we addressed was a decade-long history of proton pump inhibitor use.
Without sufficient stomach acid, even though she was eating iron-containing foods, her ability to absorb that iron was significantly compromised.
By restoring proper digestive function and gradually weaning her off the PPI—with appropriate supervision and a gradual approach to avoid rebound symptoms—her ability to absorb iron improved substantially.
Within three months, her iron saturation increased from 13% to 25%.
More importantly, her symptoms resolved.
The issue wasn’t necessarily that the VIPs weren’t showing up.
The issue was that the bouncer wasn’t letting them through the door.
The Bigger Question: Are You Absorbing What You Eat?
So the next time you think about your health, don’t just ask:
“What should I eat?”
Ask:
“Am I absorbing what I eat?”
Food may be medicine—but only if your body can digest, absorb, and use it.
Many people spend enormous amounts of time focusing on what foods to eliminate, which supplements to take, and which diet is best.
Those conversations are important.
But digestion and absorption are often the missing piece of the puzzle.
Because even the healthiest food in the world can’t help you if your body isn’t able to access the nutrients it contains.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start uncovering the root causes of your symptoms, it may be time to take a closer look at digestion.
Sometimes the issue isn’t what you’re eating.
Sometimes it’s what you’re keeping.
References:
- Low Stomach Acid and Nutrient Absorption:
- Long Term PPI use and nutrient deficiencies
- DOI: 10.7759/cureus.10613 –
- Product monographs from the drug companies themselves also state that long-term use can result in nutrient deficiencies:
Connect with Dr. Rachel Shuck
Dr. Rachel Shuck, D.Sc., is an integrative healthcare practitioner and clinical nutritionist specializing in metabolic health, gut function, and root-cause approaches to chronic disease. She combines her experience as an educator, clinician, speaker, and one-on-one health practitioner to help people uncover the underlying drivers of chronic symptoms and restore health through nutrition and lifestyle interventions.
Known for translating complex biology into practical, no-nonsense guidance, Dr. Shuck has presented at national conferences including the Secrets in Healthcare Conference, Seeking Whole Health Conference, and the Weston A. Price Foundation's Wise Traditions Conference. Her message is simple: Food is Medicine.
