Here's Why Low Carb Diets Are Not Good For You
Stomach Acidity: The Key to Digestion
Stomach Acidity: The Key to Digestion
Digestive problems account for a massive $250-million annual sales of over-the-counter medication and are the most commonly medicated conditions after the common cold. We used to believe that people over the age of forty routinely lost 50 per cent of their ability to secrete stomach acids. But my own experience has convinced me that these days, just about everybody is suffering from insufficient stomach acid. Worry, stress and the pressures of our fast-paced life tend to decrease stomach acid - and who among us has escaped the consequences? So let's take a closer look at why stomach acid is so important - and how low carb diets work to deplete it.
When you first decide to eat your lunchtime salad, your brain sends out a signal, alerting your entire digestive system to start producing the fluids, acids and enzymes that enable you to break down the food into its various components and absorb the nutrients you need.
Just thinking about food gets your system going. Smelling and seeing food is the second step. The sight of that crisp Romaine lettuce and the smell of that pungent garlic-lemon dressing literally make your mouth water - or, to put it scientifically, the prospect of food induces the production of saliva (what the kids call 'spit').
Your saliva is a major part of the digestive process, as it contains amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starches. Saliva also contains an element known as epidermal growth factor, which stimulates the growth of liver cells. Saliva helps you chew and swallow your food, which passes from your mouth down into your esophagus, a long tube that leads into your stomach.
Meanwhile, thinking about eating has triggered the flow of hydrochloric acid (HCI) in your stomach. By the time your food actually reaches the end of its esophageal journey, your stomach is full of HCI, ready to dissolve the food.
Hydrochloric acid is a remarkably powerful substance. Outside your body, it could literally burn a hole in the tablecloth or eat right through an iron nail. Within your stomach, HCI acts as a natural antibiotic, your first line of defense against toxic invaders. I don't want to alarm you, but if you had a microscope, you could see that even the healthiest lunchtime salad is simply crawling with bacteria. It's HCI that neutralizes those organisms, along with yeast and Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria associated with gastric ulcers.
Drinking too much water, particularly cold water, during a meal or within two hours after it, disrupts the function of stomach acid. So does eating under stress, or quickly, or without sufficiently chewing your food. And if you're under enough stress for a long enough time, your overall production of stomach acid will drop to a dangerously low level. Insufficient protein, a shortage of A and B vitamins, a lack of zinc, and not enough iodine or salt can also deplete your HCI levels.
Low-carb dieters don't have to worry about too little protein or salt, of course. Quite the opposite. By overloading their systems with protein, they've given their stomachs an impossible challenge. Few stomachs can keep up with the enormous amounts of protein that low-carb dieters take in - and undigested food, indigestion and constipation are the results.
You also need HCI to absorb calcium, magnesium and iron. All the calcium supplements in the world won't prevent osteoporosis if your stomach acid levels are too low. Likewise, no iron supplement you'll ever take will enrich your blood if you don't have enough stomach acid to absorb this vital nutrient.
by: Michelle S
The Benefits Of An Online Weight Loss Program The Ideal Weight Loss Diet Chiropractor Federal Way Wa | Miraculous Weight Loss Light Weight Signal Level Meter Works In A Wide Frequency Range Lightweight Folding Wheelchair Is Ideal For Traveling Lose Weight Quickly By Increase Your Metabolism Melt Your Mushy Midsection Away With The Best Weight Loss Supplements Weight Loss - Sites For Reviewing Fat Burning Programs Weight Loss Tips: Feel Confident With A Smart Physique Easy And Fast Weight Loss Tips And Home Remedies 3 Dieting Tips - A Healthy Eating Plan That Actually Works! Stop Dieting And Lose Weight By Eating Right The Diet Pill Commercial And Diet Pill Use