Hydrochloric Acid – Absorb more nutrients and get more energy out of the foods you eat by doing absolutely nothing!! Now we are talking!
Most of us that start on a “health kick” have the best of intentions – usually with a driving purpose to lose the belly that has developed – because let’s face it, our 21st century carbohydrate filled diet packs on the weight up around the trunk area like nothing else. Whilst on your health kick way, you will reduce toxins, clean all your body systems- predominantly the digestive and lymphatic, lose weight and be surprised by the amount of extra energy you have in the process. There is one thing that is often left unattended – digestion.
So you’ve increased your salads and leafy greens vegetables, your bowel motions are likely to be more frequent and less of a strain – literally, and your generally feeling better. If you are spending money on good quality produce (remembering that if it is not organic, then you are washing it very well when you get home) you want to make sure you are getting optimal bang for your energy buck out of your veggies right? The easiest way to do this is to make sure you are digesting efficiently- just eating the right foods is not going to be enough – most of us have done intestinal damage after a life time of making unknowingly poor food choices – eating gluten is gastro intestinal enemy number 1.
When switching over to a diet containing more vegetables, it is important to build up hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid is used by the stomach to breakdown fibre and plant roughage. Not all enzymes are created equal – there are many different enzymes in your body that are specific to break down each of the foods we eat. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fibre – they are all broken down by their own specific enzymes which are produced within your body, and hydrochloric acid is the one that breaks down your vegetables.
Over our life time, the eating of animal foods, demineralised foods and a few token vegetables, coupled with emotional stress, causes the body to lose its ability to produce HCL. Hydrochloric acid in our stomach is required to break down the fibre within vegetables. HCL does assist in digestion of proteins such as meat chicken and fish but is not the main enzyme or specific to breaking down first class proteins. A lack in consumption of natural salts and vegetables on top of eating our 21st century diet which is thru the roof in complex carbohydrates (breads pastas cereals- grains) and sugars – flush mineral salts from the body, causing the body to become deficient in chloride and subsequently HCL. Another myth out there is that lots of fruit is good for you – no way, eating only fruit for several months due to its high sugar content will reduce your hydrochloric acid and consequently – digestive function.
HCL is one of the body’s first lines of defence, because it destroys parasites, mould, harmful bacteria and viruses.
When HCL production is low, it affects the metabolism, and causes incomplete digestion of foods – especially leafy green vegetables. You don’t want to go spending your money on lots of wonderful fresh green produce to have it sail out your back end undigested the next day!
Increasing the amount of hydrochloric acid your body is easily done by consuming fresh juices daily. Juicing is something that seems to come up in just about all of my articles as its therapeutic benefits are monumental – If you love someone – one of the best things you can do for their health and longevity is introduce them to raw juicing. If you are suffering chronically with long term low levels of HCL it may be favourable to supplement with a good quality betaine hydrochloric acid supplement
Foods and vegetables juices to build Hydrochloric Acid
Apple Cider Vinegar – The range of therapeutic benefits in taking ACV and its super powerful ability to increase HCL almost demands an article dedicated all to its therapeutic self!
Spirulina – any grass powders, fermented foods, Celery Juice, Spinach Juice, Chard Juice, Kale Juice, Lemon Juice, Ginger juice, Olives and Sea Salt. All of these foods and juices will increase your body’s ability to make HCL, increasing digestion – the more you digest, the more nutrients you will absorb – and this extra absorption of nutrients can only mean one thing. MORE ENERGY! Who doesn’t want more energy!
For any dietary assistance relating to this article, any of the nutritional blogs or perhaps you would like assistance improving your diet and general health – please contact me
Kylie McCarthy -Nutritionist
For appointments with Kylie please phone 02 4655 4666 or email kyliem@cabothealth.com.au
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