Fix your Gut!

In my last post "Tips for Getting Lean" I mentioned gut health being a major player in getting leaner. I'm gonna dive into that a bit more and talk about a test for your HCL(stomach acid) levels that I think everyone can benefit from. First and foremost it may seem like common sense but if you can't properly digest all your food and proteins it can have a negative impact on your health and body composition. I put this number one ahead of taking multi-vitamins, fish oils, vitamin D's and other things I suggest to pretty much everyone. If you don't have the proper stomach acid levels, analyzing macro nutrient percentages and what to eat and when becomes obsolete. A few of the PhD's I saw present mentioned this being one of the major under diagnosed problems in America.
What causes declines in HCL levels?
1. Age, 90% of people over 40 are thought to suffer from hypochlorhydria(low levels of acid)
2. Stress
3. Alcohol
4. Processed foods

Taking digestive enzymes with solid meals will also eliminate gas, belching, bloating, indigestion etc. So if you know anyone that suffers from these having them take the HCL test would be very helpful.

Another reason to keep your gut healthy is the fact that 90% of our serotonin is produced there. Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter or "happy hormone" that antidepressant meds like Prozac work on. But since almost all of serotonin is produced in the gut and not the brain it makes sense that the healthier the gut the happier you will be. If you suffer from even a small bit of depression getting your gut healthier is the number one priority. You will never get better without it.

How to perform a HCL test.
http://us.cpoliquin.com/?Click=2682

If you follow that link and search for "Digest Force". Get the 90 capsule bottle, you'll need 28 for the test. The rest you would use after you determine your HCL levels. It's cheap, 24 bucks.
1. Take 1 capsule midway through a solid meal. Wait 10 minutes, if you feel a warm sensation(similar to a hot cup of tea in your stomach) you can stop the test. If not, take 2 in the middle of the following meal, same thing. If you feel nothing, take 3 the following meal, Do this until you reach 7 capsules(Do not exceed 7 capsules).
2. If for example you feel a warm sensation after 4 capsules, go back to 3 and continue with that until you feel the warmth and then drop to two etc. This will help to restore your natural HCL levels.
3. DO NOT DO THIS TEST IF YOU HAVE ULCERS, also only take the digestive help with solid meals. If you have a shake for breakfast do not take the digest force.
4. If you fail at 7 capsules you are hypochloridic. For the sake of keeping this post short, if this happens contact me directly. From my experience with people taking the test, a lot of people who didn't think they would have issues have benefited from digestive help.
5. As always if you are a skeptical or want to learn more, I suggest doing google searches. I want people to be educated on the benefits of digestive help or the potential harm of low HCL levels.
6. For clients I haven't given the test yet, I'm going to provide you with the digest force capsules so don't purchase it.
Gut health is top priority!