a method for promoting digestibility of a food product having an acid character which , when ingested , causes stimulation and hypersecretion of gastric and / or duodenum mucosae . the method comprises incorporating into the food product a sufficient amount of benzimidazole or a benzimidazole compound of the formula : ## str1 ## where x and y independently represent an alkyl group , a phenyl group or a halogen atom and n = 1 to 4 .