Low carb-high protein fat loss plans are very popular and
effective ways in getting rid of your extra body fat. Consumption of
protein builds and maintains muscle mass and you also experience less
hunger between meals. You can shed weight simply because you eat less.
However,
there is a hazard when you want to lose fat with a low carb- high
protein diet. It is a very common but often overlooked condition:
intestinal "putrefaction." Protein is digested in the stomach by the
enzyme pepsin, but only in a highly acidic environment. The more protein
you eat, the more acid is required to fully digest it. But after the
age of forty, you've got an increased risk of not having enough stomach
acid to do the digestion efficiently.
Before you begin a fat loss
program consisting of low carbs and high protein content, make sure that
your stomach's acid level is adequate. If your stomach is not working
properly, nothing else in your body will.
Low stomach
acidity is a definite metabolic disorder, and today it is very common
among all civilized races, much as is for instance, diabetes.
If
protein isn't digested well in the stomach by acid, pancreatic enzymes
fail to handle it all and some partly digested protein passes into the
bowels. Once it reaches the intestine, a large number of bacteria attack
those not-so-well digested proteins. When these bacteria come into
contact with the proteins, toxins are produced. Many of these toxins are
re-absorbed into the bloodstream, and overload the liver and the
kidneys.
Those toxins can cause all sorts of problems and possibly
even cancer. If you aren't sure whether you have low stomach acid,
check with a doctor knowledgeable in natural or nutritional medicine
before you start and/or continue a low carb- high-protein fat loss diet.
Symptoms
of low stomach acidity can include heartburn, distension, gas, a "food
just sitting in the stomach" feeling, indigestion, constipation, and
intermittent diarrhea. Under specific conditions, these large molecules
of partially digested food pass into the bloodstream. The immune system
sees them as an invader and tries to isolate or destroy them, creating
an adverse reaction.
You can improve your stomach's digestive
function by taking betaine hydrochloride-pepsin or glutamic acid
hydrochloride pepsin. Other supplements, such as lipase, amalyse and
protease, can help. If you've got any history of ulcers, stay away from
betaine hydrochloride or use it as directed by your health professional.
Low
stomach acid can cause reflux. When the level of stomach acid is low,
the food remains in the stomach longer than normal. Still, it is the
acid which causes the damage to the esophagus. The pushing of the
stomach contents into esophagus is due to the excess undigested food,
not the acid itself. Even if you've low stomach acidity, it is still
enough to cause heartburn and injure the sensitive surface of the
esophagus.
How can you find out if your stomach acidity is too low?
In
the morning, on an empty stomach, take an eight ounce glass of water
and mix in a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and drink it down. If you've
got a healthy level of acid, the baking soda will bubble up in the
stomach and cause you to burp. If it doesn't happen within a few
minutes, then your stomach acid level may be too low.
Other symptoms of low stomach acidity.
Problems
throughout the body often show first on the skin. Even dry skin can
indicate a problem. Look in the mirror and read the signs.
Rosy cheeks
If
you have rosy cheeks and/or damaged capillaries on your nose, most
people will think you're a heavy drinker, but there's often a strong
link between red faces and low stomach acid production. As we age, our
stomachs stop producing sufficient levels of hydrochloric acid and
pepsin. You can often rectify this simple digestive problem by taking
supplements.
If your face is red all over and it is most obvious
on your forehead and cheeks and you even suffer with medium to large
acne-type bumps, you may have been told it is acne rosacea and given
some prescribed medication. However, this nearly always points to low
stomach acidity. Taking supplemental hydrochloric acid and pepsin will
help your digestion but also most likely help combat your acne rosacea.
This should be closely monitored by a doctor. Also, hydrochloric acid
should never be used together with aspirin, butazolidin, inodicin,
motrin, or any other anti- inflammatory drugs. They can cause stomach
bleeding and ulcers, so using hydrochloric acid with them increases the
risk.
Yellowish skin
Many people
over fifty have a slightly yellow tone to their facial skin. You think
this is the result of getting older. But you can reverse it. Vitamin B
12 injections can help revive the healthy pink- red tones to the face. A
lack of B 12 often is the result of an older stomach not making
sufficient amounts of hydrochloric acid and pepsin.
How to balance low stomach acid?
You
can supplement your lack of stomach acid naturally. However, be sure to
talk to your doctor before starting any natural remedy treatments.
Take
1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar blended with a glass of water
before each meal. Apple cider vinegar is an excellent acidic supplement
and aids with the digestion of foods. However, it contains yeast and may
cause problems for some. If the cider backs up reflexively, it may
damage the esophagus just as much as the hydrochloric acid. It may also
erode the enamel of the teeth if it is taken in too concentrated. To
avoid that from occurring, rinse your mouth with a weak solution of
baking soda right after taking your apple cider vinegar.
Forehead wrinkles
Wrinkles
are a part of getting older. But if your wrinkles run vertically on
your forehead and are accompanied by abdominal pain, there's a fair
chance that you've got a duodenal ulcer and your digestion is impaired.
It is recommended taking a test for helicobacter pylori. If the test
turns out positive, try a natural substance called mastic. Using 500
milligrams three times daily for four to six weeks may remedy this
condition.