Stomach Acid? You Need It to Digest

Despite the many prescriptions for acid blockers, stomach acid is actually an important part of digestion.  It's what breaks down the food you eat so that the small intestine can readily absorb the nutrients that are passed on from the stomach. 
Here's a tip for getting your stomach acid ready to do its job:
Drink a large glass of water 15-30 minutes before a meal to pre-hydrate the stomach lining and act as a buffer for the stomach, signaling to the system that it is safe to make and secrete the needed Hydrochloric acid (HCl)