Hello again everyone: In previous newsletters I have outlined how sugar shrinks the brain, causes weight gain, insulin resistance, and various other health problems. I have also outlined how artificial sweeteners are actually just as damaging to our health. Here is another ‘nail in the coffin’ for both sugar and artificial sweeteners. Read more

Hello again: In this final installment, we will cover 6 steps to a healthier gut: 1.       Try an HCL supplement as outlined in Part 3. 2.       If you get some partial relief with taking HCL, you might consider adding a good digestive enzyme with the HCL. Remember, if you get any burning ache or pain, or any negative reaction (diarrhea for example) in your digestive tract from either step 1 or 2, then stop and get checked for a possible ulcer or infection. If you are a current patient, then call me right away. 3.       Try adding a good probiotic supplement to help reduce dysbiosis: If you have allergies, stick to a probiotic that has mostly lactobacillus acidophilus strains and avoid bifidobacter strains. If you have autoimmunity, avoid lactobacillus rhamnosus. This approach helps to alleviate dysbiosis and often assists with SIBO and SIFO. If you suspect Small Intestinal ... Read more

Hello again: Here we go on the last bit before we get into how to recover from these issues. Low acid can also play a significant role in the development of SIBO and or SIFO , or Small Intestinal Bacterial and/or Fungal Overgrowth, a very annoying problem where the normal gut bugs that are supposed to only inhabit the large intestine, begin to be active in the small intestine…lots of bloating, gas, discomfort, distention and a general increase in toxicity burdens. This is often related to stress being high for long periods of time, and even concussions, which cause a down-regulation of the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the 1oth cranial nerve, which starts inside the skull in the bottom of the brain stem, and travels to the entire chest and gut. It is the opposite of fight and flight and is called the rest and digest nerve because it calms us down and regulates digestion. High ... Read more

Hello again everyone: Here is more on what can happen with low stomach acid: Because stomach acid is the first step of digestion, low acid levels can result in undigested food that will leave the stomach and pass into the intestines where they will ferment and rot. Proteins will putrefy, carbs will ferment and fats will go rancid. This can lead to irritation and inflammation of the intestinal lining and increase the normal permeability of the gut lining and create what is known as ‘leaky gut’. A ‘leaky gut’ is a hyper-permeable gut. This is important because 70 to 75% of our immune system lines the intestines, and when a hyper-permeable gut allows entry of undigested food particles as well as bacteria or whatever came along with the food we ate, it can result in an immune activation that can be seen with food sensitivities, intolerances or allergies. These reactions are all ... Read more

What You Can Try At Home: Since there is no blood test that is specific for this problem, doctors recommend that you simply try an HCL supplement (which is stomach acid) with your food. If you feel better, then low acid is the diagnosis. Since zinc is needed to make stomach acid, then a zinc supplement (zinc carnosine is best..15 to 20 mg.) taken with the HCL at meals for several months can help your body start producing acid again (stop the zinc after several months as it can result in a copper deficiency). Low acid makes it difficult to absorb zinc, and low zinc results in low stomach acid, which means you can’t absorb the zinc…so part of getting your stomach back to normal requires zinc with the HCL for a while. For most of us, this is what will help but: However, this home test requires several caveats: 1. Have an antacid on hand to take if needed when you try the HCL ... Read more

Hello again everyone: As we continue this series, we will answer several questions: what does stomach acid do for us; what are the signs or symptoms that it may be low; what causes low stomach acid. What does stomach acid do for us? Adequate stomach acid is essential for multiple functions: digestion of protein; absorption of minerals and especially iron, zinc and magnesium; absorption of vitamins, especially B-12; a first layer of defense against infection as the acid kills pathogens; assists in breaking down food to small particles which lowers the risk of food allergies (also known as loss of oral tolerance). When stomach acid is low, it can cause the lower esophageal sphincter muscle to relax and allow acid to go into the esophagus and cause heartburn and/or reflux. Also, when acid is low, food will literally rot…and this can happen incredibly fast. Proteins will putrefy, ... Read more

Hello everyone: Our stomach normally makes a very strong acid called Hydrochloric Acid, and the acidity is measured in what is called pH. A pH of 1 to 7 is considered acidic, and above 7 is considered alkaline. Our stomach normally has a pH of under 3.o. It turns out that too much or too little acid can have similar symptoms: bloating, burping, nausea, gas, indigestion, reflux, discomfort, foul smelling stools, loose stools or constipation and more. Over the next several newsletters, we will run down the causes and solutions, but first some definitions: Hypochlorhydria: means low stomach acid, with a pH above 3. Achlorhydria: means a nearly total absence of acid, with a pH above 5. Too little acid means an alkaline stomach, and that can burn as much as too little acid. Our stomach is meant to be very, very acidic, and when it becomes too alkaline it can burn as bad as too ... Read more

Hello again everyone: What I tell patients every day is that food choices have everything to do with health, and they either get it but do not know what food choices to make or they just don’t fully believe it. Well…believe it! There is just too much good science now to doubt it. Here is what the opening paragraph from a Harvard monograph has to say: “For critically and chronically ill people, food is medicine. With adequate amounts of nutritious food, people who are sick have a better response to medication, maintain and gain strength, and have improved chances of recovery. Ultimately, access to healthy food leads to improved health outcomes and lower health care costs…Food is increasingly recognized as a core component of preventive and ameliorative health care.” https://www.chlpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/6.5.2014-Food-is-Medicine-Report-FINAL.pdf There are now ... Read more

Hello again everyone: As you know, chronic disease is the major cause of suffering in our country, and worldwide as well. However, knowing what the science shows us has not changed dietary patterns. This is incredibly unfortunate as it turns out that what we eat is now known to DEFINITELY be associated with the onset, aggravation and perpetuation of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular health (heart attacks, stents, stroke), diabetes, dementia, cancer, autoimmune diseases, etc., etc. Check out this recent article where they research the fact that “suboptimal diet is an important preventable risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCD’s)”. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)30041-8/fulltext#seccestitle10 "This study shows that poor diet is the leading risk factor for deaths in the majority of the countries of the world," said study author ... Read more