Approximately 10 percent of the general population take a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drug to
block stomach acid secretions and relieve symptoms of frequent heartburn, acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
As I explained in the previous section, bitter compounds elicit improved digestion not by directly
stimulating stomach acid secretion, but by stimulating the different digestive organs themselves via the nervous system.
Hence, your increased need for food is caused by the fact that we are surrounded by exotic food which is spicy and it leads to
increased stomach acid secretion — and that is a trap.
If you're constantly stressed out, then your body interprets this as your being in a perpetual crisis, in which case digesting your food is not a top priority, so
stomach acid secretion is reduced.
Stress impacts greatly on motility, enzyme, bile and
stomach acid secretions; intestinal permeability; and diversity of the microbiome.
Treatment consists of hospitalization for the administration of intravenous fluids; injectable medication to control vomiting, pain and
stomach acid secretion; and antibiotics to prevent secondary infection or abscess formation.