Are you aware of the effects of everyday drugs on your daily nutritional needs? Something as seemingly innocent as antacids can keep the absorption of your food's vitamins and minerals from occuring. Instead of shutting down those pesky stomach acid pumps, try boosting them and your digestion.

Take a swig of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice...at least a tablespoon. If the addition of these acids calms your symptoms, it is more likely that your body is screaming for more, not less, stomach acid or HCL.

These simple acids help the stomach to produce more of its own HCL acid. Ask your doctor about testing for your levels of HCL acid and supplement as needed. As we age we produce less of many things our bodies need. Stomach acid is one.

There are many causes for the symptoms of heartburn or indigestion that your doctor should explore depending on your medical and genetic history, but stomach acid deficiency is a common problem. Other culprits can be things like candidiasis, food allergy or intolerance, and ulcers, among others. Only by knowing the cause can you decide on the correct course of action for you.

Our stomachs need proper acid and enzyme levels to adequately digest our foods. Unless you pick and immediately eat raw fruits and vegetables, you are not getting the benefit of their full enzyme action in the digestion process. These foods when harvested contain the enzymes necessary to break them down so our bodies don't have to deplete our own reserves. But enzyme levels drop quickly after plucking the food from the earth.

Fruits and vegetables often travel good distances before arriving at your grocery store. In your home these foods may sit around and further deteriorate until they are eaten. Cooking can destroy vitamins and enzymes, too. Through the way we eat and the way foods are grown and brought to us, we can easily put a strain on our own enzyme levels. Modern society does not eat or produce food as nature intended.

There are digestive enzymes and systemic enzymes. Systemic enzymes build, repair and tear down body components as our systems require. They are the body's construction crew. When they stop working, so do we. Digestive enzymes and HCL work to give us the nutritional support from the foods we eat that the systemic enzymes need to do their vital work. Stop the digestion and we ventually stop this chain of events.

About the Author

Linda Mac Dougall is a Holistic Health Practitioner, holds a Master's in Psychology, and has worked much of her life with the disabled. Visit her site to find out how you can benefit from her knowledge and experience. See www.ilresources.com/MacDougallConsulting.htm