Low Stomach Acid help

[vgloveforlife]

I am beginning to think that I may have low stomach acid. Since going raw I have lost a lot of weight and I continue to lose. I am down to 103 and I do not want to lose more, I want to gain. In addition I have some other symptoms including hair loss and iron deficiency.

I searched under the banana but a lot of the posts are old. I am wondering if anyone has any new information about this problem? Why does a raw diet make it worse? I've heard green smoothies help and I'll try that. Any other tips to help alleviate this problem so I can absorb the maxium amount of nutritents that I take in.

I think I've had this problem for awhile but being raw has made it 100 times worse.

[Nix]

It sounds like you have hyperthyroid to me, with some of your symptoms. How is your intake of sea veggies? You might consider having your thyroid checked, I know you can order a kit online to do this as well. I am not a dr...just a health nut who has read quite a bit about thyroid. Seek a dr if it keeps on too long and isn't corrected by your sea veggies and green smoothies...

[D'vorah]

Victoria Boutenko addressed this at length in her book, Green For Life. You can also find articles by using google, but none that really support raw, vegan.

Yes, green smoothies are good,

Deborah

[vgloveforlife]

Thanks for the replies. I did get my thyroid checked and it's fine so no it's not that. Mostly I feel really good but this weight loss is bothering me. This is the only reason that I actually want to eat cooked food. I've actually been adding more cooked to my diet just to gain some weight.

I want to stay raw but I just don't want to be this skinny. I really think it could be low stomach acid..

Thanks for the book suggestion-I have that book and will read it.

Any other suggestions?

[Bingka]

Adding cooked food will probably only make you gain fat, not healthy lean mass.

Gaining fat is unhealthy, unless you have 3% or less body fat. That could be very unhealthy. Then a little fat would be a good thing. Try adding fat raw foods. Avocado, banana, nuts, etc.

Try weight lifting and adding more food.

I have no idea about your medical concerns though

Ken

[mongomango]

Try 1 tsp of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar in a cup of water 1/2 an hour before meals.

[vgloveforlife]

Bingka-I have tried a high fat raw diet but I still lose. I eat tons of nuts, oils and avocadoes.... a cooked diet puts me to about 110-115 and I am very happy at that weight. I am down to 103 and still losing..I see so many raw foodists who are at a good healthy weight and it's just not fair, I want to be one of those raw foodists :)

Mongomango-I am going to try this and see if it does help. A real big concern of mine is my hair falling out. Many say it is detox but I just don't know. My hair is very thin now and clumps fall out daily. I hope the ACV helps with digestion.

[Bingka]

At 110-115 are you just fatter? That won't help. Why do you think you are to skinny? Are you gaining muscle on a cooked diet or just water weight needed to get rid of the toxins?

I have read alot of posts of people feeling way to skinny and then after detoxing they gained weight to a level the body wanted, not there preconceived notion of what they thought was a healthy weight.

My Fiance' is 5'6 and is 110. SHe is skinny in most peoples eyes. But you can see she is soft and has some extra fat to lose. I love her the way she is, but that doesn't change the fact she has extra fat. Even at 110!

If it is a health related roblem I wish you the best to heal yourself.

Other people can help with sugestions on that.

Ken

[mongomango]

Mongomango-I am going to try this and see if it does help. A real big concern of mine is my hair falling out. Many say it is detox but I just don't know. My hair is very thin now and clumps fall out daily. I hope the ACV helps with digestion.

I'm sorry to hear that. I really don't know what to say about the detox thing. I never did have any bad detox experiences myself so can't say. The ACV has helped many people. It is also supposed to help the body begin producing more acid on it's own. I don't know if that's so, but I have seen many people recommending it with their anecdotal stories of how it helped them. I hope it helps you!

[Brianna]

Defnintely read Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko and maybe try out some green smoothies.

[Sunshine9]

Low stomach acid is extremely common. Doing a shot of lemon juice or ACV prior to a meal will help. Also taking HCl capsules. Drinking fresh green juice, especially celery will help to build the stomach acid over time, because ultimately it is caused by a deficiency in organic sodium. I haven't had personal experience with the green smoothies actually increasing stomach acid, but it seems to have helped people. All in all eat your greens! But avoid too much fiber because without an abundance of stomach acid, it won't feel too good going down...

[DavidZaneMason]

Look:

-There ARE things you can do:

1) Go back to a diet where your weight was stable - and make changes more slowly.

2) Eat fewer meals....and larger.

3) Put on massive amounts of muscle & get in some power walking. Your hunger and weight should come up as your muscle mass requires it.

4) Get plenty of rest and less stress.

5) Eat a much wider variety and amount of foods (raw or otherwise).

-If you think that raw is bad for you...and 'causing' your problems....then you need to eat at a level that you ARE comfortable...and make small changes. Supplement if you feel the need.

-Just some opinions / suggestions. Power and success to you.

-David Mason

[Pierre]

I third the vinegar suggestion. Also, eat some unrefined salt. The chlorine, not the sodium, is what you need here, but of course you need all the trace minerals that come with it.

[vgloveforlife]

Thank you all so much! I think my daughter may have low stomach acid too.
I found a home test to see if one does:

Mix 1/4 tsp baking soda with 8 oz water and drink. If you don't belch within 2-5 minutes you probably have low stomach acid.

I am going to try this and definitly try the vinegar and green smoothies. I wish I could find a larger variety of greens around here though.

[Linda1970]

Try 1 tsp of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar in a cup of water 1/2 an hour before meals.

I think this will help.