What is the importance of hydrochloric acid in the composition of gastric juice?

Hydrochloric acid is the most important component of gastric juice. Sometimes a person develops a disease such as atrophic gastritis, when there is not enough hydrochloric acid in the stomach. In this case, digestion is almost impossible and a person gets it from outside. Hydrochloric acid stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes. Some of them are able to activate and work normally only in its presence, in an acidic environment. Hydrochloric acid irritates special receptors and promotes the movement of food further along the tract. Also, hydrochloric acid has antiseptic properties – almost all bacteria that we swallow with food every day die and do not cause disease.