Hi I was just curious if you can have low HCL but also gastritis. Last year i had an endoscopy and it said mild gastritis. But i really think i have low HCL. I always had GERD since i was a kid. and i have candida and many other issues like not absorbing food or digesting any food. i have severe bloating with anything i eat. it just seems like i would have low HCL but like i said i dont know if someone can have gastritis with that. or if thats only with high HCL. anyone know? thanks! :)

Definitely!  In fact you are more likely to have gastritis from a lack of stomach acid.  Gastritis simply means inflammation of the stomach lining.  A lack of stomach acid not only leads to a lowered immune system from nutritional deficiencies, but also increases the risk of damage to the stomach lining since most pathogens thrive in an alkaline environment.

Another common cause of gastritis is various pharmaceutical medications.  Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in particular are the most common offenders since they can block the prostaglandins that are required for the formation of the stomach's protective lining.  By inhibiting the production of this lining even traces of acid can lead to gastritis.