15-12-2012, 07:20 PM
While searching for ways to stimulate my appetite, I came across this article:
http://www.charlespoliquin.com/Blog/tabi...rally.aspx
What really interested me in that article was the third item on the list: Restore Your HCl Levels. I looked into it and discovered that this is probably the main problem causing my myriad of health problems, as well as holding back my NBE.
What is HCl?
![[Image: stomach_diagram.jpg]](http://www.health-choices-for-life.com/images/stomach_diagram.jpg)
HCl stands for Hydrochloric Acid, and it is the acid in your stomach that helps your body break down and digest food. Low HCl levels are also referred to as Hypochlorhydria. The most important role of HCl is to help your body absorb nutrients from food. Without enough HCl, your body is unable to properly digest food, and you may over time become deficient in essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids that help your body function. Obviously, these nutrients are essential for seeing the greatest results possible from NBE.
Symptoms of low HCl
![[Image: stk79882cor_XS.jpg?h=10000&w=400&keep_ratio=1]](http://photos2.demandstudios.com/DM-Resize/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/234/146/stk79882cor_XS.jpg?h=10000&w=400&keep_ratio=1)
Since the main problem caused by HCl is malabsorption, the symptoms will oftentimes be those of multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This is what made me look into HCl in the first place. I had spent the past year researching, and found that I was deficient in most vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Because of this, I researched causes of malabsorption. However, for some reason, low HCl is not a commonly discussed issue, and I was never able to find articles on it before in my searches. Hopefully this list can help some of you who may also suffer from this problem.
The most common signs of low stomach acid are bloating and/or gas (especially after eating), indigestion, constipation or diarrhea, acne, undigested food in stool, rectal itching, chronic fatigue, loss of appetite or thirst, dry skin, hair loss, dry, cracked fingernails, or nails with vertical lines going through them, heartburn and/or acid reflux, and constant sickness and/or autoimmune disorders. It may also cause neurological disorders such as insomnia or unrestful sleep, depression and memory loss.
Those with only slightly lowered HCl levels may experience less severe symptoms, or may not recognize them as symptoms at all. Meanwhile, those with much lower levels of HCl will have most if not all of the common symptoms, and it may greatly hamper their day-to-day living. Left untreated for years, the low acid levels may eventually lead to such severe problems as arthritis, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, macular degeneration and stroke.
Since your entire body needs nutrients to function properly, untreated low levels of HCl will eventually wreck havoc on your entire body. You may develop poor vision, migraine headaches, anemia and heart conditions. HCl levels slowly drop as we age, so while some of these symptoms may seem like typical aging problems, if they occur at an early age, they may actually be a sign of something more serious.
Check out this page to see how low stomach acids can affect any part of your body.
How To Diagnose Yourself
While it may be in your best interest to talk to a doctor, those around here know I'm strongly against doctors, and so I'd like to share a few ways to go about diagnosing yourself.
The pH Strip Test
![[Image: 100293-1.jpg]](http://www.luckyvitamin.com/site/images/item_descrip/100293/100293-1.jpg)
Take a pH test strip (they can be found at health stores such as GNC and Vitamin Shoppe) and test your saliva first thing in the morning. Then take another test half an hour after eating. If your HCl levels are normal, the numbers will rise after eating. However, if they stay the same or become lower, you have low HCl.
The Baking Soda Test
Mix one quarter teaspoon of baking soda with 8oz of water first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything. After drinking it, time yourself and see how long it takes to burp. Someone with regular stomach acid levels will usually burp within 2-3 minutes, however, someone with low levels may take five minutes or longer, if they burp at all. If it takes longer than five minutes, there's no need to keep timing, and you can safely assume you have low HCl.
Talk To Your Doctor
![[Image: doctorHome.jpg]](http://www.healthcaremagic.com/web/images/ui/doctorHome.jpg)
There are other tests your doctor can perform that might give you a better reading. However, they do involve swallowing a special pill. Oftentimes, the pill will be on a string and will need to be pulled back out of the body once it reaches to stomach, a process that is described as being very uncomfortable. For this reason, you may want to just try an at-home test, or ask your doctor if there are other options.
I Have Low HCl; Now What?
![[Image: 8894641-mugs-with-chamomile-tea-lemon-and-pill.jpg]](http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/mangost/mangost1102/mangost110200016/8894641-mugs-with-chamomile-tea-lemon-and-pill.jpg)
Your best bet is probably to begin supplementing with Betaine HCl so that your body can begin absorbing the food you're eating. Once you can absorb food, you can learn how to better eat to maintain regular stomach acid levels.
Turmeric, Apple Cider Vinegar (raw, with the "Mother") and lemon are all good, common additives and supplements you can try to treat low HCl. Try drinking a glass of lemon water in the morning, take shots of apple cider vinegar before a meal*, and sprinkle turmeric in some of your food. These should all aid in the production of stomach acids. Cabbage and sauerkraut also stimulate proper acid levels in your stomach, which helps your body produce more HCl.
*be careful with Apple Cider Vinegar, as drinking it without a straw may damage the enamel on your teeth, and long-term consumption will cause extra damage to your esophogus; also, NEVER take ACV pills, as if they get stuck in your throat, they will cause SEVERE damage to your esophogus.
Finding Your Dose
![[Image: 583-714-large.jpg]](http://www.1wallmart.com/img/p/583-714-large.jpg)
To find the right dose for your body, go to your local health store any buy some Betaine HCl. Check the dosing on the back of the bottle. It will usually tell you how many to take at most per meal, although some of them only give you a max amount to take per day. Start with one pill at your first meal. If you don't feel a warming sensation in your chest or your stomach (like you just drank a cup of hot chocolate), wait until your next meal, and take two pills this time. Continue raising the dose at each meal until you feel that warming sensation. If you can take 6 pills at a time and still don't feel the warming sensation, it's safe to assume you produce VERY low levels of HCl, if any at all. Your proper dose will be one less than the amount of pills needed to feel the warming sensation (so, if it took three pills to feel the warmth, take two at meals).
For a smaller meal, or for meals eaten only a couple of hours apart, you can lower your dose. Many people only take one pill for snacks, even if they normally require a high dose. I prefer to take my highest dose at breakfast when I take my vitamins and NBE herbs, and then take progressively lower amounts as the day goes on (unless I end up eating a very large meal).
Will I Be Taking These Pills For The Rest Of My Life?
The answer is, probably not. Over time, after supplementing enough, your body will eventually begin to produce sufficient HCl levels on its own. As your body begins to absorb nutrients again, it will begin absorbing Potassium and Magnesium, which are the two nutrients needed to produce HCl.
It may not, however, be a bad idea to supplement as you get older, as your HCl levels begin dropping with age. It may help keep your body running healthy much longer, and you may notice less symptoms of the aging process.
Avoid Antacids At All Cost!
![[Image: Stoff.jpg]](http://www.creationsmagazine.com/photos/C138/Stoff.jpg)
In today's world, indigestion and acid reflux is commonly diagnosed as Hyperchlorhydria. However, up to 50% of the population is actually plagued by its opposite, Hypochlorhydria. Antacids are meant to help lower high stomach acid levels, and using it when you don't suffer from high levels might actually exacerbate the problem. Use these with caution as if can actually also cause Hypochlorhydria in those with normal levels.
___________________________________
Sources:
http://drmanlove.com/diet-and-nutrition-...-acid.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/540611...mach-acid/
http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesM..._Test.aspx
http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesM..._Test.aspx
http://www.charlespoliquin.com/Blog/tabi...rally.aspx
What really interested me in that article was the third item on the list: Restore Your HCl Levels. I looked into it and discovered that this is probably the main problem causing my myriad of health problems, as well as holding back my NBE.
What is HCl?
HCl stands for Hydrochloric Acid, and it is the acid in your stomach that helps your body break down and digest food. Low HCl levels are also referred to as Hypochlorhydria. The most important role of HCl is to help your body absorb nutrients from food. Without enough HCl, your body is unable to properly digest food, and you may over time become deficient in essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids that help your body function. Obviously, these nutrients are essential for seeing the greatest results possible from NBE.
Symptoms of low HCl
Since the main problem caused by HCl is malabsorption, the symptoms will oftentimes be those of multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This is what made me look into HCl in the first place. I had spent the past year researching, and found that I was deficient in most vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Because of this, I researched causes of malabsorption. However, for some reason, low HCl is not a commonly discussed issue, and I was never able to find articles on it before in my searches. Hopefully this list can help some of you who may also suffer from this problem.
The most common signs of low stomach acid are bloating and/or gas (especially after eating), indigestion, constipation or diarrhea, acne, undigested food in stool, rectal itching, chronic fatigue, loss of appetite or thirst, dry skin, hair loss, dry, cracked fingernails, or nails with vertical lines going through them, heartburn and/or acid reflux, and constant sickness and/or autoimmune disorders. It may also cause neurological disorders such as insomnia or unrestful sleep, depression and memory loss.
Those with only slightly lowered HCl levels may experience less severe symptoms, or may not recognize them as symptoms at all. Meanwhile, those with much lower levels of HCl will have most if not all of the common symptoms, and it may greatly hamper their day-to-day living. Left untreated for years, the low acid levels may eventually lead to such severe problems as arthritis, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, macular degeneration and stroke.
Since your entire body needs nutrients to function properly, untreated low levels of HCl will eventually wreck havoc on your entire body. You may develop poor vision, migraine headaches, anemia and heart conditions. HCl levels slowly drop as we age, so while some of these symptoms may seem like typical aging problems, if they occur at an early age, they may actually be a sign of something more serious.
Check out this page to see how low stomach acids can affect any part of your body.
How To Diagnose Yourself
While it may be in your best interest to talk to a doctor, those around here know I'm strongly against doctors, and so I'd like to share a few ways to go about diagnosing yourself.
The pH Strip Test
Take a pH test strip (they can be found at health stores such as GNC and Vitamin Shoppe) and test your saliva first thing in the morning. Then take another test half an hour after eating. If your HCl levels are normal, the numbers will rise after eating. However, if they stay the same or become lower, you have low HCl.
The Baking Soda Test
Mix one quarter teaspoon of baking soda with 8oz of water first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything. After drinking it, time yourself and see how long it takes to burp. Someone with regular stomach acid levels will usually burp within 2-3 minutes, however, someone with low levels may take five minutes or longer, if they burp at all. If it takes longer than five minutes, there's no need to keep timing, and you can safely assume you have low HCl.
Talk To Your Doctor
There are other tests your doctor can perform that might give you a better reading. However, they do involve swallowing a special pill. Oftentimes, the pill will be on a string and will need to be pulled back out of the body once it reaches to stomach, a process that is described as being very uncomfortable. For this reason, you may want to just try an at-home test, or ask your doctor if there are other options.
I Have Low HCl; Now What?
Your best bet is probably to begin supplementing with Betaine HCl so that your body can begin absorbing the food you're eating. Once you can absorb food, you can learn how to better eat to maintain regular stomach acid levels.
Turmeric, Apple Cider Vinegar (raw, with the "Mother") and lemon are all good, common additives and supplements you can try to treat low HCl. Try drinking a glass of lemon water in the morning, take shots of apple cider vinegar before a meal*, and sprinkle turmeric in some of your food. These should all aid in the production of stomach acids. Cabbage and sauerkraut also stimulate proper acid levels in your stomach, which helps your body produce more HCl.
*be careful with Apple Cider Vinegar, as drinking it without a straw may damage the enamel on your teeth, and long-term consumption will cause extra damage to your esophogus; also, NEVER take ACV pills, as if they get stuck in your throat, they will cause SEVERE damage to your esophogus.
Finding Your Dose
To find the right dose for your body, go to your local health store any buy some Betaine HCl. Check the dosing on the back of the bottle. It will usually tell you how many to take at most per meal, although some of them only give you a max amount to take per day. Start with one pill at your first meal. If you don't feel a warming sensation in your chest or your stomach (like you just drank a cup of hot chocolate), wait until your next meal, and take two pills this time. Continue raising the dose at each meal until you feel that warming sensation. If you can take 6 pills at a time and still don't feel the warming sensation, it's safe to assume you produce VERY low levels of HCl, if any at all. Your proper dose will be one less than the amount of pills needed to feel the warming sensation (so, if it took three pills to feel the warmth, take two at meals).
For a smaller meal, or for meals eaten only a couple of hours apart, you can lower your dose. Many people only take one pill for snacks, even if they normally require a high dose. I prefer to take my highest dose at breakfast when I take my vitamins and NBE herbs, and then take progressively lower amounts as the day goes on (unless I end up eating a very large meal).
Will I Be Taking These Pills For The Rest Of My Life?
The answer is, probably not. Over time, after supplementing enough, your body will eventually begin to produce sufficient HCl levels on its own. As your body begins to absorb nutrients again, it will begin absorbing Potassium and Magnesium, which are the two nutrients needed to produce HCl.
It may not, however, be a bad idea to supplement as you get older, as your HCl levels begin dropping with age. It may help keep your body running healthy much longer, and you may notice less symptoms of the aging process.
Avoid Antacids At All Cost!
In today's world, indigestion and acid reflux is commonly diagnosed as Hyperchlorhydria. However, up to 50% of the population is actually plagued by its opposite, Hypochlorhydria. Antacids are meant to help lower high stomach acid levels, and using it when you don't suffer from high levels might actually exacerbate the problem. Use these with caution as if can actually also cause Hypochlorhydria in those with normal levels.
___________________________________
Sources:
http://drmanlove.com/diet-and-nutrition-...-acid.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/540611...mach-acid/
http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesM..._Test.aspx
http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesM..._Test.aspx
I'm still only taking 3-5 at a time, and am seeing results from that, so I'm not sure if I should try taking more or not (right now I'd rather not, as the pills are somewhat expensive and go very quickly!) I AM noticing it helps me absorb things MUCH better, though! There's a drink called Neuro Passion that my friend turned me onto. It helps her migraines and puts her in a good mood. It only did this to me the first time I took it. But now if I take some HCl before drinking one, it actually works on me! I'll bet this is the reason Tylenol never works for me at ANY dose, and why caffeine never gets me hyped up. I'm so excited to see what happens next!
