From Helen Chin Lui’s book, “Digestive Health Secrets:Ā Deactivate Sick Genes NOW!” coming out at the beginning of 2015.

Continuation of “Do You Have Low Stomach Acid?”

What does HCl, or hydrochloric acid, do for you?Everyone needs proper levels of stomach acid in order to break down foods and absorb nutrients, including minerals, vitamins, and folic acid. If you donā€™t have enough stomach acid, you canā€™t fight off infections or invasive bacteria. HCl is crucial in preventing bacteria from migrating from the small intestines and colonizing in the stomach. Think about the last time when you were sick – did it take a long time to get over it?

People diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Celiac Disease, GERD, or IBS, have stomach acid problems. If you have made changes in your diet and lifestyles and you are not seeing results, check with your health provider.
Symptoms

If you experience acid reflux, heartburn, burping, gas, or nausea after eating, it is likely that you have low stomach acid.

Why Does this happen?
There is a constant pressure in the abdomen known as intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). A normal stomach has an IAP between 0 to 55 mm Hg.Ā  When there is insufficient stomach acid, IAP increases and pushes against the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Since the lining of esophagus lacks the protective coating that the stomach has, any stomach acid that is pushed up into the LES touches the lining of the esophagus and produces a painful burning sensation.

Some signs of low stomach acid are
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā ā€œAcid stomachā€ relieved only by eating
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Acid indigestion
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Bad breath and body odor
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Indigestion 30 minutes to an hour after eating lasting up to 4 hours
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Visible undigested food in the stools
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Stomach upset causes by acidic or spicy foods
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā White spots on your fingernails or breaking nails
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Frequently taking antacid drugs

What is happening in your stomach?
If there isnā€™t enough acid in your stomach, the food is likely sitting and fermenting instead of breaking down. This fermentation produces gas.

If you are burping and you still tasting your meal hours after you have eaten, this may be an indication that food is still sitting in your stomach and hasnā€™t moved into your small intestines yet. This is not a good sign. But you can help yourself! How? Try mindful eating to help increase your HCl level.

How to increase your HCl?
Making simple diet changes can usually help improve acid levels.

Recommended foods:
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Wild-caught salmon, albacore tuna, avocados and sprouted nuts,
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Foods high in omega-3 oils and fiber
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā At least 64 oz of filtered water a day
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Yogurt with active cultures

Harmful foods:
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Alcoholic beverages
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Trans-fat
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Refined sugars and artificial sweeteners (sugar encourages bacterial growth.)
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Night shade vegetables, tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Simple (refined) carbohydrates and wheat
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Peanuts, sodium nitrite foods, MSG,
ā€¢Ā Ā  Ā Some common sense here, avoid any foods that give you heartburn

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The Healing Place has helped hundreds of adults and children to find long-lasting relief from chronic pain, digestive issues and heal hormonal imbalances naturally.

Helen Chin Lui is a certified Reflexologist, Certified Energy Medicine and Reiki Practitioner. She is the founder and owner of the Healing Place in Medfield. She specializes in helping people with chronic digestive disorders. For her free report ā€œProven Alternative Ways to Heal Common Chronic Digestive Problems: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know Can Keep You From Healingā€ click here.


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