As a Registered Nutritionist, I have found that over 90% of my clients have major digestive issues. Acid Reflux and Indigestion are common complaints. Many of my clients have visited their doctors and are on toxic pharmaceutical drugs that cause more damage than good including the following list of side effects.
* abdominal pain
* constipation
* diarrhea
* dizziness
* dry mouth
* gas
* headache
* nausea or vomiting
They are told this is a "chronic problem" that they are destined to deal with for the rest of their lives.
This is simply not true. The answer is so simple with no need for drugs whatsoever.
While the majority of the population suffering from “Acid Reflux” or “Indigestion” or “Heartburn” is convinced that they produce too much acid and therefore must take Antacids, for most of those people, the OPPOSITE IS TRUE!!!!! There is a common, frequently undiagnosed and usually untreated condition known as hypochlorhydria.
Hypochlorhydria is the underproduction of hydrochloric acid by the stomach. Hydrochloric acid (HCL) is responsible for three important functions:
1. It begins the breakdown of protein
2. In the presence of food, it activates an enzyme called "pepsin," which further breaks down protein
3. It is necessary for the breakdown and utilization of minerals, especially calcium.
NOTE: Calcium can only be absorbed in an acidic environment, so those ads that tell you that an Antacid is a “good source of calcium” is misleading you because Antacids create an alkaline environment and therefore, any calcium present cannot be absorbed by the body.
When the stomach is deficient in HCL production, food eaten lies in the stomach and ferments which leads to gas, burning and bloating. For those people, reaching for their antacids is the worst thing that they can do since it only alleviates the burning symptoms but actually over the long haul just contributes to the real problem!
Usually hypochlorhydria is a condition that is left undiagnosed and untreated. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the symptoms of hypochlorhydria are similar to those of hyperchlorhydria (overproduction of hydrochloric acid). Burping, belching, bloating, "heartburn," gas, sour stomach, undigested food in stool, a voracious appetite (due to cellular "starvation"), food sitting in stomach too long, slow digestion, inability to eat a large meal due to feeling full quickly, constipation, and diarrhea can all be due to insufficient HCL production. Thus, many of those who have too little HCL production are treated as though they have too much.
In the late 1960s, the Heidelberg test was developed. This elegant (but expensive) device involves swallowing a capsule about the size of a vitamin pill that can measure the stomach acid content. But this relatively simple ability to diagnose hypochlorhydria is infrequently used due to the mistaken belief by most practitioners that hypochlorhydria is not worth treating -- astonishing when sales of antacids, acid blockers and ulcer medications consistently top the list of drug sales. An even simpler test is to buy and HCL supplement and take it with a little bit of water. If you experience a burning sensation, you know you have enough acid in your stomach and you don’t need to supplement – simply drink a big glass of water and you will be fine. In all my years of practice THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED!!! Without exception, every client has benefited from supplementing with HCL
Digestion is not the only issue to consider here. Stomach acid serves many other important functions, including keeping the body free from disease. Many bacteria enter the body with food and some of them are not friendly to human life. In a normal stomach, these bacteria are doused with acid and die. In a person with hypochlorhydria, these bacteria remain alive and continue their journey into the small intestine along with a generous food supply. It has been shown that people with hypochlorhydria have a higher incidence of infections. The ever present yeast organism makes its entrance via the mouth. Many people with the so-called "yeast syndrome" are unable to get rid of their yeast because the organism continues to re-infect the body through the mouth. Another important function of hydrochloric acid is the stimulation of pancreatic enzyme and bile release into the small intestine. Without enough pancreatic enzymes and bile, the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins A and E, is severely compromised, inadvertently causing undernutrition even with an excellent diet.
The following conditions have been linked to hypochlorhydria:
Acne rosacea,
Adrenal insufficiency,
Allergies,
Anemia,
Arthritis,
Asthma,
Autoimmune Diseases,
Celiac Disease,
Chronic fatigue,
Chronic hepatitis,
Diabetes mellitus,
Dry skin,
Gallbladder disease,
GERD - misdiagnosed acid reflux, but really hypochlorhydria,
Hypoglycemia - Infections increased - parasitic, yeast, bacterial,
Lupus erythematosis
Nail weaknesses
Osteoporosis
Poor night vision
Psoriasis
Rheumatic arthritis
Stomach cancer risk increased
Thyroid disorders
Vitiligo
So instead of reaching for an antacid, why not try supplementing with HCL and fix the problem for good. In general, we recommend that someone start out with 1 HCL with each meal. It can take up to a few months for the problem to resolve, but once your symptoms disappear, you can stop taking the HCL and just use as needed. Remember to eat a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole foods to maintain that healthy stomach.
Showing posts with label digestion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label digestion. Show all posts
Monday, April 6, 2009
Habit #4 "Eat Foods That Are Right For You"
As a Registered Nutritionist, I have clients who come to me with a variety of ailments seeking to restore balance in their body. In this series "Habits for Vitality", I'm going to give you some basic habits to incorporate into your life to help you make the changes necessary to live an Optimal Life.
“What should I eat to be healthy?” I really wish there was one simple answer, but just as we are all unique in our personalities, we are unique in the foods we need to consume. A Ferrari needs high octane fuel and a Honda needs low octane fuel – that’s just the way it is for them to perform optimally. So what fuel do you need to perform optimally? Perhaps the information below will help answer that for you.
Hippocrates 460-377 B.C. once said, "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food"
Lucretius, the Roman Healer/Philosopher observed some 2000 years ago, "One Man's food is another man's poison".
Have you ever heard of an elephant hunting down a wildebeest and eating that for lunch, or heard of a lion eating leaves and grass? Of course not. Animals instinctively know what food source their bodies require and eat only that.
As humans we have this instinct as well, the only problem is, we ignore it. The signs and symptoms are all there but due to an overabundance of food at our disposal we choose to eat all that is available without consideration for the affects on our body.
Example 1: you eat some food for dinner and then get wicked heartburn or indigestion.
What is the typical response to this? Take a pill to fix the problem. This seems ridiculous to me.
Why not reflect on the fact that whatever it was you ate is not right for your body and thus causing this uncomfortable reaction? You system is literally trying to regurgitate what it considers to be toxic.
Example 2: you go out for lunch with some friends and 2 hours later you are dopey and desire an afternoon nap.
What is the typical response to this? You grab a coffee or something sweet for a pick-me-up. Now you are setting yourself up to crash again.
Why not reflect on what you ate for lunch and recognize that whatever you had is putting a strain on your digestion – which by the way, requires a lot of energy – and try to figure out the problem. If you had pasta for lunch, try protein next time and see the difference (or vice versa).
Example 3: your girlfriend goes on a diet and loses a ton of weight practically overnight. You give it a try and not only does it not work, but the pounds pile on instead.
What is the typical response to this? you beat yourself up and wonder “what’s wrong with me” and perhaps even go to the health food store looking for a pill to solve the problem
Why not reflect on the fact that your girlfriend is different from you. One size most definitely does not fit all. Think about the foods that make you feel full and satisfied for a long time. Trying eating only protein or only carbs at a meal and note the difference in how long you feel energized.
Keep a food diary – not just what you eat, but how you feel. Consider the following:
Mental Clarity: are you able to sit and read a book and absorb the information or is your mind wandering?
Appetite: are you hungry less than 2 hours after eating or are you satisfied for hours?
Cravings: are you desperately looking for chocolate, sweets or potato chips?
Emotions: are you feeling emotionally stable or are you ready to freak out if anyone so much as says “boo” to you?
Physical: are you feeling any pain, discomfort, allergic reaction, indigestion, headache, etc.?
Sleep: are you able to sleep through the night without waking? If you wake up for a “toilet run” or because of a sound, can you fall back to sleep easily?
Your Metabolic Type is unique and hereditary. Eating the right foods in the right combinations for your Metabolic Type will make you feel great and improve your vitality and general well being.
Metabolic Typing Diet has been around since the mid 1980's when researchers in the US discovered "biochemical individuality". They found that no two individuals are alike on a biochemical or physiological level. Cutting-edge research by Wolcott and Fahey (2000) shows that a 'Metabolic Typing Diet' will enable you to:
• naturally achieve and maintain your ideal weight
• enhance athletic performance
• enjoy sustained energy and endurance
• conquer indigestion, fatigue and allergies
• bolster your immune system
• prevent and reverse diseases
• slow down the aging process
• overcome mood swings and depression
• ultimately improve your whole lifestyle and gain vitality
Each individual has a specific dominant metabolic rate, which is determined via factors such as heredity and environment, (weather, stress, etc). These factors may change over time, but by 'listening' to your body, you can regain and maintain a sense of well being and vitality.
Understanding your MT will lead to increased physical energy enabling you to perform everyday tasks better, control cravings, eliminate hunger between meals and ultimately to increase your sense of well-being.
If you would like to know your Metabolic Type and a list of the foods you should be eating, visit www.myhealthybalance.com, pay for the online test and I will email you the link and then the results when I get them. You will receive a full listing of the foods you should and should not eat and foods that are neutral. If you have specific ailments, there is further intake information we can incorporate to get a more detailed list of foods.
“What should I eat to be healthy?” I really wish there was one simple answer, but just as we are all unique in our personalities, we are unique in the foods we need to consume. A Ferrari needs high octane fuel and a Honda needs low octane fuel – that’s just the way it is for them to perform optimally. So what fuel do you need to perform optimally? Perhaps the information below will help answer that for you.
Hippocrates 460-377 B.C. once said, "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food"
Lucretius, the Roman Healer/Philosopher observed some 2000 years ago, "One Man's food is another man's poison".
Have you ever heard of an elephant hunting down a wildebeest and eating that for lunch, or heard of a lion eating leaves and grass? Of course not. Animals instinctively know what food source their bodies require and eat only that.
As humans we have this instinct as well, the only problem is, we ignore it. The signs and symptoms are all there but due to an overabundance of food at our disposal we choose to eat all that is available without consideration for the affects on our body.
Example 1: you eat some food for dinner and then get wicked heartburn or indigestion.
What is the typical response to this? Take a pill to fix the problem. This seems ridiculous to me.
Why not reflect on the fact that whatever it was you ate is not right for your body and thus causing this uncomfortable reaction? You system is literally trying to regurgitate what it considers to be toxic.
Example 2: you go out for lunch with some friends and 2 hours later you are dopey and desire an afternoon nap.
What is the typical response to this? You grab a coffee or something sweet for a pick-me-up. Now you are setting yourself up to crash again.
Why not reflect on what you ate for lunch and recognize that whatever you had is putting a strain on your digestion – which by the way, requires a lot of energy – and try to figure out the problem. If you had pasta for lunch, try protein next time and see the difference (or vice versa).
Example 3: your girlfriend goes on a diet and loses a ton of weight practically overnight. You give it a try and not only does it not work, but the pounds pile on instead.
What is the typical response to this? you beat yourself up and wonder “what’s wrong with me” and perhaps even go to the health food store looking for a pill to solve the problem
Why not reflect on the fact that your girlfriend is different from you. One size most definitely does not fit all. Think about the foods that make you feel full and satisfied for a long time. Trying eating only protein or only carbs at a meal and note the difference in how long you feel energized.
Keep a food diary – not just what you eat, but how you feel. Consider the following:
Mental Clarity: are you able to sit and read a book and absorb the information or is your mind wandering?
Appetite: are you hungry less than 2 hours after eating or are you satisfied for hours?
Cravings: are you desperately looking for chocolate, sweets or potato chips?
Emotions: are you feeling emotionally stable or are you ready to freak out if anyone so much as says “boo” to you?
Physical: are you feeling any pain, discomfort, allergic reaction, indigestion, headache, etc.?
Sleep: are you able to sleep through the night without waking? If you wake up for a “toilet run” or because of a sound, can you fall back to sleep easily?
Your Metabolic Type is unique and hereditary. Eating the right foods in the right combinations for your Metabolic Type will make you feel great and improve your vitality and general well being.
Metabolic Typing Diet has been around since the mid 1980's when researchers in the US discovered "biochemical individuality". They found that no two individuals are alike on a biochemical or physiological level. Cutting-edge research by Wolcott and Fahey (2000) shows that a 'Metabolic Typing Diet' will enable you to:
• naturally achieve and maintain your ideal weight
• enhance athletic performance
• enjoy sustained energy and endurance
• conquer indigestion, fatigue and allergies
• bolster your immune system
• prevent and reverse diseases
• slow down the aging process
• overcome mood swings and depression
• ultimately improve your whole lifestyle and gain vitality
Each individual has a specific dominant metabolic rate, which is determined via factors such as heredity and environment, (weather, stress, etc). These factors may change over time, but by 'listening' to your body, you can regain and maintain a sense of well being and vitality.
Understanding your MT will lead to increased physical energy enabling you to perform everyday tasks better, control cravings, eliminate hunger between meals and ultimately to increase your sense of well-being.
If you would like to know your Metabolic Type and a list of the foods you should be eating, visit www.myhealthybalance.com, pay for the online test and I will email you the link and then the results when I get them. You will receive a full listing of the foods you should and should not eat and foods that are neutral. If you have specific ailments, there is further intake information we can incorporate to get a more detailed list of foods.
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