Hydrochloric Acid: It Does a Body Good

How important is hydrochloric acid to general well-being?  Turns out very important. Dr. Rob D'Aquila explains that "A need for hydrochloric acid supplementation is definitely one of the most common things I see in patients. Especially those patients who complain of digestive difficulties like bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, yeast overgrowth (even vaginal), and even heartburn. Additionally, patients who complain that they “lost the taste” for meat tend to need HCl as well. Lastly, it should be investigated in everyone with mineral deficiency symptoms, especially osteoporosis."

Nutritionist and Certified Trainer, Brad Sly, observes, "The digestive system is really the corner stone of our wellbeing, as it is involved in so many processes. If our digestive system is in order, we feel great, we can perform at the level we want, and we can push ourselves to make bigger and better gains in the gym. If our gut health is poor, we can end up with impaired immune and nervous systems, and it can also wreak havoc with our hormonal function throughout the body."

He made an interesting point about coffee, which I had suspected, and that is that the caffeine renders the gut more permeable and can . . . can lead to a leaky gut.  Not good.  Not good at all.

WHAT ROLE ZINC?

Both Sly and D'Aquila note the importance of zinc in the repair, maintenance, and formation of HCL.

D'Aquila explains that zinc plays an important role in the formation of hydrochloric acid, ". . . it takes more energy to make HCl in the body than any other chemical. Additionally, the mineral zinc is absolutely necessary to make it. Hydrochloric acid production is formed by the interaction of carbon dioxide and water, which is mediated by an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase, which is zinc-dependent. As a result, I always supplement zinc when I find a patient needs HCl, and then eventually wean them off the HCl. By the way, a generally accepted reliable indicator of the need for more zinc is white spots on the finger nails. I can’t find conclusive scientific evidence for this, however, I’ve had personal experience with it and also with my patients."

He finishes by saying that the best way to fix HCI deficiency is that ". . . 90% of the time, the patient must alter their diet. Very often, HCl supplementation is one of the main solutions." 

HOW TO REPAIR THE GUT?

Sly recommends the following. 

"In this first step we remove the offending foods and toxins from your diet that could be acting as stressors on your system. This means caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, bad fats, and any other foods you think may be causing issues, like gluten and dairy. All of these all irritate the gut in some form and create an inflammatory response."

Though not surprised I was disappointed to read this.  Not for any perceived or tested inaccuracy but for the inclusion of dairy as a stressor. Yes, I've heard how dairy is inflammatory, but I'd always thought that at least in its purer forms that it was actually beneficial for your immune system.  Must be a kind of inflammatory but perhaps in certain amounts or for certain conditions it is beneficial.

 

He continues, "The next step is to begin to repair the gut and heal the damaged intestinal lining. You do this by consuming an unprocessed diet and giving your body time to rest by providing it with substances that are known to heal the gut, like L-glutamine, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, antioxidants (in the form of vitamins A, C, and E), quercitin, aloe vera, and turmeric."

FOOD REMEDIES FOR THE GUT

Marilee Nelson explains that eating ". . . unpasteurized unheated salt-free sauerkraut . . . helps to raise stomach acid "if" it is too low, and it lowers stomach acid "if" it is too high. Eating 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sauerkraut with meals is very helpful to the digestive system. I recommend making your own or buying Rejuvenative Foods.

Here is a second article on the importance of this acid and how to rebuild it.

YOUR MORNING COFFEE LEECHES MAGNESIUM

He mentions SSR's, anti-depressants. Did you know that fluoride is a main component of anti-depressants? Do not take that stuff.

Magnesium helps to mineralize the core part of your bones.  Deficiencies cause porous bone mass.

CLEAN YOUR LIVER

Avocado produce glutathione. Listen and read here. 

This article corroborates much of what was recommended in the video above.

 

GINGER BETTER THAN ASPIRIN?

I have written about ginger at least twice on this blog. Today I read an article by Robert McCarrison, cited as a pioneer by Wikipedia "McCarrison carried out the very first experiments to demonstrate the effect of nutrition on the epidemiology of disease." The article started with three things, two of which are food, you want to do for your liver since your liver is essential to health. One is to drink distilled water, preferably one gallon per day.  Second, eat sauerkraut.  And by the way, these are not in hierarchical order of importance.  All three need to be done.  And third, eat red beets.  There it is. That's how to take care of your liver: drink distilled water, eat red beets, and eat sauerkraut. Now onto ginger.  Ginger came up in connection with heart health.  So those of you who are looking to maximize your heart's energy and efficiency, listen up. Ginger is great for blood circulation.  I have never tried the plant ginkgo biloba.  I have tried the supplement, most of which are very weak.  The best brand I ever consumed of ginkgo biloba is Trader Joe's brand.  But they discontinued it several years ago.  No worries.  Instead of ginkgo, try ginger.  I have already begun to notice the difference after only one day of consuming ginger.  My heart rate is settled.  My sleep is incredible.  My waking hours are more productive.  I am not making this stuff up.  I am merely documenting my experience.  I have no stocks or portfolio in ginger farms, so I have no conflict of interest.  Ginger does work. The article states that "The second concern with your aging heart is to prevent blood clots, which can cause a heart attack or stroke, as your arteries become less flexible and accumulate deposits. The normal treatment is to take aspirin or anti-clotting drugs, but both of these have undesirable side effects.  The best natural treatment is ginger!" Natural foods all have their anti-oxidants.  Ginger has its anti-oxidants.  Three of its well-known anti-oxidants are gingerol, shogaol, and zingerone.  Wow.  They all sound like they were names given by young lab technicians in a 6th-grade laboratory experiment on ginger.  Too funny.   HOW ABOUT NAUSEA? "Even some pharmaceuticals will recommend [ginger] for nausea and vomiting. For faster absorption, it can be held in the mouth and allowed to sink through the tissues into the bloodstream.  Ginger pills can be purchased cheaply from health food stores.  The media and medical establishment expressed shock when ginger was successfully used to eliminate nausea from chemotherapy poisoning. It is very effective." GINGER HEALS from nstarzone.com.  Ginger has an extremely high level of phytochemicals, plant substances with a healing effect.  In addition to its beneficial effects on the heart and its anti-cancer activity are its anti-inflammatory effects and its high content of antioxidants. The healing ingredients are a variety of volatile essential oils, vitamins B6 and C, and the minerals calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, and potassium.  Ginger stimulates body heat.  It speeds up blood circulation and sweating; it promotes both the supply of nurturing and healing substances with the blood and the removal of waste material through perspiration.  Ginger brings blood to the surface of the body and therefore it is a good cure for chilblains.  Ginger will stimulate fever in people who need to sweat out diseases like colds and flues.  It works as an anti-inflammatory, and in combination with its heat-stimulating characteristics, it is a powerful tool in fighting arthritis.  If you suffer from stiff or aching muscles, treat yourself to a hot bath with slices of ginger.

IMPROVE YOUR VISION WITH BATES METHOD, VITAMIN C & LUTEIN

I have never heard of the Bates Method, but here it is. The key is that it's not that your eye muscles are too weak. Less than perfect vision is the result of having muscles too strong. Mercola says that you want your eye muscles to relax, and you do this through focusing and relaxation strategies, but

TIPS: 

1.  Don't squint. The worst thing you can do. Why? Squinting makes your vision worse. It's better to blink. This will help you relax your muscles. 

2.  Avoid any tension around your eye; avoid squinting 

3.  Don't use sunglasses. 

4.  Don't increase the size of the font on your computer.  You want to continually challenge your vision.  

5.  Seeing great without the use of corrective lenses.  As people get beyond 40, many of us require reading glasses.

6.  Mercola says that "You should avoid eyeglasses, LASIK surgery, and other potentially harmful eye treatments."

7.  Use the Bates Method.

FOOD REMEDIES FOR YOUR EYES  

What about carrots?   Americans eat carrots thinking they're getting vitamin A.  Carrots provide fiber and that fiber interferes with absorption of the beta-carotene.  Lutein is a carotenoid, like beta-carotene, but lutein comes from kale, spinach, and eggs and not carrots. In fact, carrots don't even contain vitamin A.  The beta-carotene in carrots is converted to vitamin A in your liver but only when you add some fat to a meal.  So you can get vitamin A from carrots but only conditionally.  Lutein supplements, on the other hand, are a powerhouse for your eyes.  Try it and you will be amazed. 



ADD VITAMIN C TO YOUR LUTEIN

one study shows that about 294 mg of vitamin C significantly decreases the risk of cataracts compared to 77 mg. per day (about the level set by the Academy of Sciences). [Clin Chem 39: 1305, 1993] To get that much vitamin C a person would have to consume 5 oranges per day. Daily consumption of vitamin C supplements for 10 years or more results in a 77-83 percent reduction in the prevalence of cataracts. [Am J Clin Nut 66: 911-16, 1997]

To get enough vitamin C, what are you gonna do, eat 12 oranges a day?  Check this out.

There is concern that maximal upper limits may not accommodate the nutritional needs of specific organs in the body. Nutritional authorities have given too much attention to achieving minimal and maximal blood levels of nutrients, which may not be an adequate measure of nutrients in specific tissues. For example, it has been stated that the blood circulation becomes saturated with vitamin C at about 240 milligrams. Even when saturation has been achieved in the blood plasma, the provision of 2000 milligrams of vitamin C further increases the levels of vitamin C in the aqueous fluid of the human eye by 35 percent. (Meaning that your eyes can absorb more vitamin C than other tissues, and if they can absorb more, it means your eyes use more vitamin C than other organs.)  Higher levels of vitamin C are required in the aqueous fluid of the eye than in the blood circulation because the human eye is transparent and is prone to harm by-products of oxidation (hydrogen peroxide) emanating from exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. Much higher levels of vitamin C are required to prevent cataracts than to prevent scurvy. The daily amount of vitamin C required to prevent cataracts is in the range of 300-2000 milligrams (the equivalent of 6-30 oranges), which exceeds the best dietary consumption (about 200-250 milligrams from consumption of five servings of fruits and vegetables). The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) now considers 2000 milligrams of vitamin C as "toxic." [See my addendum regarding the issuance of new recommendations for antioxidants by the NAS below.] The human eye has a greater need for vitamin C, lutein, vitamin E, glutathione and vitamin A, than most other tissues in the body. 

Again, on the virtues of vitamin C, your eyes, and the prevention of cataracts.  

One of the fallacies of current vitamin C research is the use of blood serum levels as the gold standard for establishing recommended daily consumption levels. A 1991 study, conducted at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, found that there were "striking differences" in ocular levels of vitamin C among older adults who consume 148 mg of vitamin C from their daily diet (which is 2.5 times the old 60 mg RDA and 1.6 times the current 90 mg recommendation) compared to adults who took 2000 mg daily from supplements. The level of vitamin C in the focusing lens and aqueous fluid of the eye increased by 22-32 percent with consumption of 2000 mg of daily vitamin C supplementation, which affords protection against cataracts. Thus the idea that vitamin C levels reach a saturation point at about 240 mg in the blood serum, and that additional vitamin C is worthless and only washes out in the urine, is dispelled by this research. [Current Eye Research 8: 751-59, 1991] This is the same level of vitamin C that the National Academy of Sciences now considers "risky." [NAS press release April 10, 2000]