Hi there Reader,

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First off - I'm super excited to share a brand new resource I created for you! This 10 min training covers the #1 thing I teach all my clients to do so they never have to think about starting another elimination diet ever again.

This topic was chosen by you and I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

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Over the years, I’ve taken several GI MAP stool tests to figure out what was going on “under the hood” of my digestion. And while each test gave me new insights, there were also some very clear patterns.

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One of the biggest was that I was stuck in low stomach acid (or HCL).

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Here are 3 signs from my results that pointed to stomach acid issues:

• H. pylori – This bug showed up in my first test, and then had actually increased in the second and third. Low stomach acid makes it easier for H. pylori to take hold, and once it’s there, it keeps you stuck in a low-acid cycle.

• A parasite – Your stomach acid is designed to be your first line of defense against pathogens. It should be strong enough to kill off anything harmful you ingest. Mine wasn’t, and that allowed a parasite to survive and set up camp in my gut.

• Candida – Same story here. With stomach acid too low, yeast had the perfect opportunity to thrive.

It took me a long time to realize that doing any sort of protocol was basically futile until I fixed this root cause.

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Because if I didn’t get my acid levels back up, my gut immune system couldn’t do its job, my food wasn’t being broken down properly, and my pancreas and gallbladder weren’t getting the signals they needed to release enzymes and bile.

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The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to boost your stomach acid levels naturally.

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Here are my favorite starting points:

• Add more bitter foods (arugula, dandelion greens, grapefruit, dark chocolate, coffee – just watch caffeine). Bitter flavors signal your body to make more acid.
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• Increase magnesium-rich foods (nuts, avocados, leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, beans). Magnesium helps pump hydrogen into the stomach so it can bind with chloride to make HCL.
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• Increase zinc-rich foods (oysters, lobster, beef, nuts/seeds, beans, yogurt). Your body needs zinc to produce HCL.
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• Manage stress. Chronic stress is a major cause of low stomach acid because your body uses the same ingredients to make cortisol as it does HCL. During times of stress, cortisol is the priority.
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• Keep alcohol in check. Long-term high intake reduces acid secretion and inflames the stomach lining.
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• Work with a professional if you’re on a PPI (proton pump inhibitor like Prilosec or Nexium). Never stop cold turkey on your own – there are safer ways to support your system while weaning off.
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If you're curious how testing could help uncover what’s really driving your symptoms – hit reply and let’s chat about it.

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Warmly, Grace @ Nutrition with Grace​ ​​​​ ​ Remember: this email is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.

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