Just In Health
How to Find Your Optimal HCL Dose
A step-by-step guide to personalizing your Betaine HCL Supreme protocol
💡 Overview
- Your optimal HCL dose is individualized — there is no one-size-fits-all formula.
- Finding the right dose requires careful, gradual trial and observation.
- Incorrect dosing may reduce the benefits of your digestive protocol.
🎥 Watch Dr. Justin's videos on HCL dosing and enzymes for a full walkthrough:
🔄 How to Start the Digestive Support Protocol
Follow this order — add one supplement at a time and wait until stable before adding the next:
🔬 HCL Supreme — How to Titrate Your Dose
This is the most important section of your protocol. Follow these steps carefully:
| 1 | Eat a meal with 20–30g of protein (~4 oz meat). HCL is only needed with protein-rich meals — skip it for fruit or light snacks. |
| 2 | Take 1 capsule of HCL Supreme mid-meal. Not before. Not after. Mid-meal is essential. |
| 3 | Observe for 30–60 minutes after eating. Watch for: burning, warmth, heaviness, bloating, or stomach discomfort. |
| 4 | No symptoms? Increase by 1 capsule at the next protein meal. Do this daily, one capsule at a time — not multiple capsules at once. |
| 5 | Symptoms appear? Back down by 1 capsule. Your ideal dose = the last dose that caused NO symptoms. |
| 6 | Stay at your ideal dose. Typical range is 1–3 caps/meal. You may go above 3 only if digestion clearly improves. |
| 7 | Do not exceed 5 capsules per meal unless directed by Dr. J. |
📊 HCL Titration At-a-Glance
Use this table to track your daily titration:
| When | Dose | What to Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Start: 1 cap/meal | Take mid-meal. Watch for any symptoms. |
| Day 2 | 2 caps/meal | If no burning or discomfort, increase by 1. |
| Day 3 | 3 caps/meal | Still comfortable? Keep going. |
| Day 4 | 4 caps/meal | Feeling burning/heaviness? STOP — go back to 3. |
| Day 5+ | 5 caps/meal (max) | Only if directed by Dr. J or digestion improves above 3. |
⭐ Key Rules to Remember
• Always take HCL mid-meal (never before or after).
• Increase by only 1 capsule per day — never jump multiple doses.
• Your ideal dose = 1 capsule LESS than what caused symptoms.
• Adjust dose based on how much protein is in the meal — less protein = fewer caps needed.
• Avoid drinking more than a few ounces of water during meals — it dilutes stomach acid.
❓ How Many Capsules Do I Actually Need?
Many people stop too soon. The therapeutic dose is typically 3–5 grams per meal, which may require 5–6 capsules for some people.
If you reach 5–6 caps with no change in how you feel, back down to 2–3 caps and reassess.
⚠️ A healthy stomach is designed to handle strong acid. Use symptoms — not fear — as your guide.
⚠️ Had Symptoms at 1 Capsule? Use the Microdose Protocol
If you are sensitive to HCL or experienced burning, heaviness, or discomfort at just 1 capsule, do not push through. You can open any capsule and mix the powder into your food to start at a much smaller amount. Begin at ¼ to ½ capsule and work up gradually. Follow the steps below:
STEP 1 — Stop HCL immediately and take ½ tsp baking soda in 8 oz water to neutralize.
STEP 2 — Add GI Restore to calm and heal the gut lining before retrying HCL.
STEP 3 — If irritation does not improve within 1–2 days, take a 3–7 day "Supplement Holiday" (stop all supplements) until symptoms fully resolve. If you feel better within 1–2 days, you can skip this step and proceed to Step 4.
STEP 4 — When ready to retry, use the microdose ladder below:
| Dose | How to Take It | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ capsule ★ Start here | Open capsule, mix ¼ of the powder into food mid-meal | No symptoms for 2–3 meals? Move to ½ capsule. |
| ½ capsule ★ Or start here | Open capsule, mix half the powder into food mid-meal | Still comfortable? Try 1 full capsule. |
| 1 full capsule | Swallow whole mid-meal with a few sips of water | No issues? Continue standard titration if desired. |
| ⅛ capsule (very sensitive only) | Open capsule, mix just a small pinch into food mid-meal | Use this only if ¼ capsule caused symptoms. No symptoms for 2–3 meals? Move to ¼ capsule. |
💡 Tips for the Microdose Protocol:
• Stay at each dose for at least 2–3 meals before moving up — do not rush.
• If any dose causes symptoms again, drop back one level and hold there.
• Try Organic Bitters or lemon juice / ACV (1 tsp in water before meals) as a gentler acid stimulant while you build up.
• Continue GI Restore throughout to support gut lining healing.
Still reacting at ⅛ capsule? Hold on HCL entirely. Stick with enzymes and bitters, and let Dr. J know at your next visit so we can investigate further (H. pylori, atrophic gastritis, or active inflammation may be a factor).
📈 Track Your Progress
You are moving in the right direction when you notice:
✅ Less burping, bloating, or gas after meals
✅ Improved stool consistency (formed and sinking)
✅ Less heaviness or fullness after meals
🔬 Other Supplement Dosing — Quick Reference
🔸 Enzyme Synergy
- Start with 1–3 capsules per meal.
- Increase to 4–5 if needed. Adjust based on how your digestion feels.
- Best for: larger, protein-rich meals where you also need HCL support.
🔸 Digest Synergy
- Take 1–3 capsules per meal.
- Contains a lower dose of HCL (less than half the amount in HCL Supreme), plus digestive enzymes and bile support — all in one capsule.
- Use this if you are sensitive to the full dose of HCL Supreme — it provides gentler acid support while still supporting protein digestion.
- Also a good option for lighter or moderate-protein meals (e.g. eggs, protein shake, smaller portions of meat).
- Can serve as a maintenance option once digestion has stabilized.
⚡ Sensitivity Step-Down: HCL Supreme → Digest Synergy → Organic Bitters
HCL Supreme: Full-strength HCL. Start here for most patients. Titrate up using the protocol above.
Digest Synergy: Lower-dose HCL combined with enzymes and bile. Use if HCL Supreme is too strong — start at 1 capsule and titrate up to 3.
Organic Bitters: If even Digest Synergy cannot be tolerated, use organic bitters before meals. This is the gentlest option and stimulates your own stomach acid production naturally.
🔸 Liver Supreme
- Start with 1–3 capsules per meal.
- Increase up to 5 if digestion and stool consistency improves.
- Target: stools that sink (a sign of improved fat digestion).
🩺 Special Situations
History of Ulcers or GI Bleeding
- Start with enzymes only — do not take HCL initially.
- Once stable with no bleeding for several months, introduce HCL very slowly:
- Start with ⅛ capsule mixed into food and increase only if tolerated.
- Start with ⅛ capsule mixed into food and increase only if tolerated.
- Add gut-healing support: GI Restore and TruCollagen.
🍋 If HCL Feels Too Strong
Try these gentler acid stimulants first:
- Organic Bitters — take before meals.
- Lemon juice or Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): mix 1 tsp in a few ounces of water, drink 5 minutes before meals, taper up as tolerated.
📖 Insight from Dr. Jonathan Wright
People with the lowest levels of stomach acid are often the most sensitive to HCL supplementation. A thinned or inflamed stomach lining (atrophic gastritis) lacks its normal protective barrier. If this applies to you, start with digestive bitters and use lower-dose HCL in combination with enzymes.
🚨 If You Have a Reaction or Burning
- Stop all supplements for 3–7 days (a "Supplement Holiday").
- Take ½ tsp baking soda in 8 oz water to neutralize excess acid immediately.
- Reintroduce one supplement at a time, starting at the top of your protocol.
- Begin with GI Restore and gentler options before retrying HCL.
- Increase doses in small steps (¼ or ⅛ capsule) if needed.
- After stabilizing for 1 week, you can try increasing HCL again slowly.
💩 Stool Troubleshooting
Diarrhea
- GI Binder: 1–2 capsules at bedtime.
Constipation
- Oxy-Powder (ozonated magnesium): start with 1–2 capsules at bedtime on an empty stomach.
- If more support is needed, take 1–2 additional capsules upon waking (also on an empty stomach).
- Gradually adjust to find the right balance — avoid overly loose stools.
- Over time, as motility improves, taper and reduce the dose.
- Triphala: helps soften hard, compacted stools.
- Organic Bitters / Ginger Tea: stimulates digestive motility.
🧾 Supplement Quick Reference
| # | Supplement | Purpose | Dose Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HCL Supreme | Supports stomach acid for protein digestion | 1–5 caps/meal (titrate up) |
| 2 | Enzyme Synergy | Broad-spectrum digestive enzymes | 1–5 caps/meal |
| 3 | Digest Synergy | Lower-dose HCL + enzymes + bile; for sensitive patients or lighter meals | 1–3 caps/meal |
| 4 | Liver Supreme | Bile support; helps with fat digestion | 1–5 caps/meal (target sinking stools) |
| 5 | GI Restore | Healing and soothing for the gut lining | As directed |
| 6 | GI Binder | Gut binding; helps with die-off reactions and diarrhea | 1–2 caps at bedtime |
| 7 | Organic Bitters | Gentlest acid stimulant for HCL-sensitive patients | Before meals |
🛒 How to Order Supplements
All supplements mentioned in this handout are available directly through the links above. You can also order through the store or by emailing the office:
👉 Click to visit the online store: justinhealth.com/shop
👉 Email the office to request an invoice: office@justinhealth.com
All supplement links throughout this handout open directly to the product page. Simply click any supplement name above to order.
📌 Final Reminders
• Always take digestive supplements mid-meal.
• Increase doses slowly — one capsule at a time, one day at a time.
• Your ideal HCL dose = 1 capsule less than what caused any burning or discomfort.
• Adjust dose based on protein content of your meal.
• If digestion is not improving after dialing in HCL and enzymes, you may have an underlying gut infection (H. pylori, parasites, SIBO) that needs testing.
• For questions or concerns, check in with Dr. J at your next visit.