In Thrive’s body image survey of more than 100 women from around the country, the #1 “most hated” body part is…you guessed it…
Your stomach.
For whatever reason, we women like to segment our body into parts—rather than looking at it as a whole.
And we are far more accepting of our appendages and assets—like our smiles, eyes or boobs—than the “big four”: our stomachs, our thighs, our butt or our underarms.
“I am fine with my eyes…and my shoulders…but my pooch? Ugh!”
Or, “My feet are nice….and I like my smile…but my big caboose? I need to get that butt into shape!”
The beat goes on.
What body parts do you have a tough time accepting?
When I used to hate on my body, for as long as I can remember, it was always my thighs and my stomach.
I wanted a sleek thigh gap and flat belly with six pack abs like I saw in Victoria Secret ads (Oh yes, an order up of boobs bigger than a Double A please!).
Thigh-toning moves, strict meal plans, crunches and calorie counting were my methods to “getting there”, and yet, the more time or attention I devoted to these efforts…the more consumed I became with my food and fitness.
Even though I began to “achieve” the results I thought that would allow me to have happiness, contentment and body freedom, I got the OPPOSITE—more obsession or worry over my body…constant body checking the mirror…waking up most days, thinking about the “looming cloud” of not liking my body…for another day.
Even though you may hate things about your body…the more you hate on them, the more you actually become obsessed with your body.
(And girl-frand, you are so much more than just the body—the tent or vessel—in which you house your beautiful mind, your soul and your passions!).
“Getting over my body” was not an overnight thing (and to be quite honest, I am human, and still at times struggle with loving the reflection I see in the mirror), but a HUGE lightbulb moment in beginning to love—and care—for the skin I am in came when I began learning how to care FOR my body—rather than shape, contort and objectify my body.
When I learned things like…
Stomach acid is good for you!
What?
Yup.
Stomach acid is good for you.
Learning more about how my body works, and how to support it to work at it’s peak (in order to thrive) began to help me get over hating on myself in the mirror…and focus more on beauty from the inside out.
Stomach Acid 101
Stomach deficiency, or “hypochlorhydria” (low stomach acid) is by far one of the most common underlying health issues I see in my nutrition practice.
Common signs and symptoms of low stomach acid are very similar to leaky gut (since the two go hand-in-hand), including:
- Nausea with supplements
- Belching and gas
- Heartburn (yes, it happens because you don’t have ENOUGH stomach acid)
- Loose stools
- Brittle fingernails
- Adult acne
- Mineral deficiencies
- Anemia
- Undigested food in stool
- Asthma and allergies
- Osteoporosis
- Autoimmune disorders
- Difficulty digesting proteins
- And…Bloating
Yup. Bloating: the “culprit” of many tummy woes.
When you don’t have enough stomach acid, the break down of your food is slowed and poor digestion leads to a poor absorption and uptake of nutrients throughout your body.
And when digestion is off, the other systems of your body get thrown off.
Ideally, the stomach SHOULD contain enough free hydrochloric acid (“HCl” or stomach acid) to maintain a constant stomach acidity between pH 1 and 2. The amount of stomach acid SHOULD increase rapidly following the ingestion of food…unless these factors are at play:
Causes of Low Stomach Acid
- Age (significant decrease as we age)
- Exercise (especially intense)
- Medication
- NOT chewing your food
- Low water intake
- Drinking water WITH meals
- Poor quality diet
- Not eating enough
- Erratic eating habits (binging, purging, restricting)
- Coffee
- Alcohol
- Large meals
- Adrenal fatigue and chronic stress
No matter your trigger(s), you can boost your digestion with a little stomach acid love.
Boost Stomach Acid
- A Spoonful of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). A natural acidic substance, adding 1 tablespoon of ACV to a shot glass of water around meals can get your juices flowing.
- Digest with Enzymes. Digestive enzymes are boosters for the enzymes you should already have in your body. Think of them like the Pac-Mans of breaking down food (chomp, chomp, chomp). However low stomach acid can also give way to low enzyme production. Boost these little guys as well with digestive enzymes (1-2 capsules) with meals, like this one.
- HCL + Pepsin. Also in supplement form, you can actually add a 1-2 punch of stomach acid through a capsule or pill. This stomach acid straight up does what it’s name sounds like—adds a boost of stomach acid to your gut. If the ACV and digestive enzyme combo aren’t getting you where you want to be, consider replacing ACV with an HCL supplement (containing Pepsin in it).
- Just breathe. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a million times…slow down at meal times. Breathe. Chew. Taste. If our food is not broken down well from the beginning, than it has a rocky rollercoaster to ride the rest of the way. By helping our stomach with the break down of food with our masticators (teeth), we help it get a step ahead.
- Food Quality + Quantity. Sometimes all that’s needed for “enough” stomach acid is removing the stressful foods on the digestive system (80% of the time), and being mindful of what your body can take at once. For some folks, eating 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day can allow their digestive systems to flow—not be overloaded at once with larger meals. Experiment and find what works for you.
As always, these are general recommendations and it is recommended you get your own customized nutrition plan and guidance on the path to healing your body.
I’m super stoked to offer, for the first time, an online version for a custom designed nutrition template, with your health and goals in mind. Nutrition is 80% of all results (digestive health, body composition, disease prevention, etc.).
Connect with me here to receive your own nutrition and lifestyle plan, along with meal ideas, a grocery list and recipes, based on your preferences.
The bottom line?
A “flat stomach” is more than skin deep—look below the surface.
FREE THRIVE KICKSTARTER GUIDE
Get a taste of what Thrive is all about with the Free 7-Day Thrive in Life Kickstart Guide when you join Thrive’s inner circle.