Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Terry: “I have the most embarrassing problem, which seems to trouble me constantly. I have so much gas that sometimes I have trouble controlling when I will expel the gas. It wouldn’t be so bad but the odor is very foul.” Albert S, Clearwater, FL A. Dear Albert, This is a very common and simple problem and one that you can rectify quite easily. Most gas, particularly foul smelling gas, is caused by a very slow and lazy digestive tract. A well functioning stomach secretes large quantities of hydrochloric acid. Don’t let the name scare you. It’s a natural component of our digestive juices that is necessary to break down proteins and all minerals. In the presence of hydrochloric acid, a natural enzyme, pepsin, is then secreted from the mucus lining of the stomach. Without a natural flow of hydrochloric acid, the foods in the stomach will not be completely digested and putrefaction will set in. Sorry for the unpleasant analogy, but this is similar to a sewage system that does not drain well, and therefore, the foul smell. As we get older, our secretion of hydrochloric acid slows down, as do many other metabolic functions. We don’t run as fast as we did when we were 20, and we don’t digest foods as well as a younger person. The solution to your problem is to take from 1-3, 10 grain, (600 mg) capsules of betaine hydrochloric acid (HCL) or a product called Protazyme (from Enzymatic Therapy) with each meal. People who have a need for hydrochloric acid will experience indigestion, gas, bloating, foul smelling stool and signs of undigested foods passing through. A digestive paradox is that the signs and symptoms of too much or too little acid are exactly the same. Some people mistakenly use antacids and even over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors that shut down acid production, when what they really need is for more acid in the stomach. Experiment with capsules of hydrochloric acid at each meal and you will feel relieved of your problem.