Herbs, supplements and superfoods are useless if they are not bioavailable. And bioavailablility is contingent on good mechanical digestion (chewing) combined with hydrochloric acid breaking the food down in the stomach.
I had NONE of the symptoms on the low-stomach-acid checklist. Not a one. My interest had simply been intellectually piqued last week when my naturopath friend had commented on the role low stomach acid plays in reduced vitamin absorption. Ears pricked! Partly as a mom, and partly as someone who is often asked about herbal remedies but later baffled why a given herbal treatment works stunningly well on some people, but not others.
So what is the list of common symptoms for low stomach acid?
- indigestion
- burning sensation after eating
- frequent burping after eating
- bloating
- feeling of over-fullness after eating
- stomach upsets
- gas, flatulence
- constipation
- diarrhea
- chronic intestinal infections: bacterial, yeasts, parasites
- candida infection
- undigested food in stools
- food sensitivities
So how does one test for low stomach acid? With beetroots!! You simply drink at least 120ml of pure beetroot juice once a day for 2-3 days and then observe your urine output.
The red pigment in beetroots, called betalain, should be broken down in the stomach. It's normal for your stool to be darkish red after eating beetroot, but your urine should be its normal yellow-clear colour. If it is pink or even red, your stomach acid is too low. And your absorption and assimilation of many nutrients is compromised and sub-optimal.
Are you one of those odd people who doesn't like beetroot? (haha yes, I too was incredulous at that thought, but have heard there ARE some out there!) Add some lime, ginger, carrot or apple to make it easier to drink down.
No juicer? Make a great raw salad out of grated beetroot with onion, lime and fresh herbs. Too easy.
So for the last days my 14 year old daughter, Ploi @nabithecat and I have slugged down our beetroot juice each morning. For curiosity's sake and nothing much more. The results really surprised me!! Ploi, who often has "sore stomachs" came out perfect with a 100% not-a-trace-of-pink result, whereas I, who had no symptoms, had noticeably pink urine.
What are the consequences of chronic low stomach acid?
- Poor absorption from your food can lead to deficiencies of vitamins and minerals;
- Poor absorption and deficiencies mean your brain keeps signalling for more food, since its nutrient needs remain unfulfilled;
- Proteins aren't broken down properly. Your body, which needs protein for repair and growth, then moves protein from bone and joint surfaces to major organs where it is needed, which can compromise bone integrity;
- Low stomach acid impairs the digestion of calcium, which can lead to bone problems, cramps and sleep problems.
This is important stuff for she who is still recovering from 6 recent fractures in her arm!
Long term health issues related to chronic low stomach acid include arthritis, leaky gut syndrome, osteoporosis, asthma and cancer.
So what are some natural ways to rebalance your stomach acid levels?
- Use lots of fresh ginger, which is known to promote digestion and increase stomach acid levels;
- Eat natural fermented foods;
- Drink kombucha and kefir;
- Use lemon, lime and apple cider vinegar liberally;
- Don't drink a lot of water with your meals - a few sips is enough.
My favourite go-to natural medicine? Digestive bitters with a splash of vodka, fresh lime and soda before dinner. The classic aperitif. Campari and fresh orange juice is equally good.
Have you done "the beetroot test" lately? How did you do? What changes did you make to rebalance your body and improve your food's natural bioavailability?
Fancy an aperitif? 🍸
Contributing to the @earthtribe. Cos it MATTERS.
Well known problem from TCM perspective (and in Ayurveda also I believe).
It’s called 脾气虚 “Spleen-qi deficiency”, Pí is the functional organ system involved in digestion, and all those symptoms you listed are some of the signs that digestion is inefficient.
A lot of folk get told their diet isn’t good enough and get sold expensive supplements… when the problem is their gut just ain’t working as it should.
It makes soooo much more sense to use foods and tweaks to dietary habits to bring digestive processes back up to speed!!!
Never knew that about beetroot water. I ❤️ Beetroots and will eat them at any chance.
😊🙏🏽☯️
Our collective ignorance makes us sitting ducks to be SOLD TO. Or to be sold full stop. :( Sharing the information and wisdom should save most people a bucket of money. Just crank up that digestive fire!! I am exploring how to make digestive bitters for my evening aperitif using local Thai bitter herbs. Stay tuned!! :)
Beetroot is AMAZING!! Informative, as always @artemislives
Thanks @buckaroo - between us we carry more knowledge and experience than the average university. 😆 Glad you found it useful.
Love this post, it's so informative. I've got a few beetroots growing in the veg patch but going to add some to the shopping list so I can do the test. thanks so much for sharing
Nothing better than home grown beets! But yes, get the test sorted - it's surprising how we take this idea for granted - that we absorb everything that goes in. Some of us have very expensive pee, no??? hahaha.... 😂
Amazing Post full stop the photos a are great too full stop so informative. I'm so glad you're part of natural medicine we can put this stuff in the archives to come back to later or refer people to. I have a bunch of beetroots fresh out of the garden. No juicer but I will get grating
High praise from you, ma'am. blush 😆 I really enjoy grated raw beetroot - I have a batch of over-fermented kombucha I am about to use instead of vinegar for the next decade (was a big batch!!) and it will be super nice over a raw beetroot salad. With red onions and fresh coriander. YUM. Goddess level hugs to you! x
I do love beetroot and beetroot juice is a favourite of mine, I try and drink it regularly and I am eagerly waiting mine to grow. I never meant the connection between it and stomach acid though, thank you for this very informative post my friend xxx
It is all about sharing the knowledge we have in a useful, simple, enjoyable way, no?? Making it DOable. And not onerous. Loving your constancy and sending hugs to you and your girls. x
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