4 Proven Ways to Test Your Stomach Acid Levels at Home

Dec 12, 2025

Discover why stomach acid is crucial for digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall health. Learn simple at-home tests to check your stomach acid levels, like the steak, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda tests. Dr. Jockers shares effective tips to enhance stomach acid production naturally, emphasizing the role of the vagus nerve. By the end, you'll be equipped with actionable strategies to boost gut health and energy levels, while preventing digestive issues like bloating and reflux.

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INSIGHT

Stomach Acid Is Foundational To Digestion

Stomach acid sterilizes food, starts protein digestion, and enables mineral absorption.
Low acid raises risk of infections, nutrient deficiencies, and autoimmunity.

INSIGHT

Acid Production Requires Energy And Vagal Input

Producing very low pH (1.5–2.2) for protein digestion is energy and nutrient intensive.
Vagus nerve activation and nutrients like zinc and chloride are essential to make sufficient acid.

ADVICE

Prep Digestion With Vagal Activation

Activate the vagus nerve before meals: sit down, breathe deeply, feel gratitude, and smell your food.
These simple actions increase digestive juice release and improve stomach acid production.

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In this episode, Dr. Jockers dives into the importance of stomach acid for proper digestion and overall health. He explains how low stomach acid can lead to nutrient deficiencies, gut infections, and digestive issues like bloating and reflux. Dr. Jockers also shares simple at-home tests to determine if your stomach acid levels are sufficient.

You'll learn how stomach acid plays a key role in breaking down protein and absorbing vital minerals like magnesium, zinc, and iron. Without enough acid, your body can't effectively absorb nutrients, which impacts energy levels, skin health, and immune function.

Dr. Jockers also offers practical tips to improve stomach acid production naturally, including how to activate the vagus nerve and optimize digestion with simple lifestyle changes. By the end of the episode, you'll have actionable steps to support your gut health and boost nutrient absorption.

In This Episode:

00:00 Introduction to Stomach Acid and Digestion

00:31 Importance of Stomach Acid

01:39 Blood Sugar and Insulin Resistance

03:49 How to Test Your Stomach Acid Levels

04:00 Role of Stomach Acid in Digestion

10:31 The Steak Test

14:12 Apple Cider Vinegar Test

15:59 Baking Soda Test

17:21 Optimizing Stomach Acid Levels

21:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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"Low stomach acid is one of the biggest hidden drivers behind gas, bloating, and microbial overgrowth."

~ Dr. Jockers

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