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B12/PA and lemon juice

FlorencePocket-Owl profile image

Hello I’m looking for some info on drinking lemon juice, I read somewhere on here about it but seem to have lost the saved post. If someone could help that would be great. Thank you.

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FlorencePocket-Owl profile image
FlorencePocket-Owl
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15 Replies
fbirder profile image
fbirder

If you have PA then your immune system is attacking certain cells in your stomach (Gastric Parietal Cells). These have two main jobs - they make Intrinsic Factor (which is needed to absorb B12) and stomach acid. Without the GPCs you have little, or no, stomach acid - achlorhydria.

Achlorhydria can have various effects, heartburn, gas, bloating, diarrhoea - symptoms similar to those of IBS.

Some people find that drinking something acidic with larger meals helps. I use about 25 mL of lime juice with my lunch and dinner, mixed into a glass of orange juice or tonic water. I start drinking just after the start the meal, drink half the glass while eating and the rest just as I finish. I'm aiming to replicate the way that the normal stomach releases acid.

Other people choose apple cider vinegar (cannot stand the taste). There are also pills that release hydrochloric acid. But I found one was not enough and two was to much.

in reply tofbirder

That is so helpful fbirder do you find that by adding the lemon/ lime juice to tonic water it reduces the effect of drinking it on your throat,I get such a sore throat when I drink just lemon juice in water so I think I’ll try your mix as I now know I have p.a.

Many thanks

fbirder profile image
fbirder in reply to

Sometimes, when eating out (not that I'll be doing that for a while) I'll take a little vial with the lime juice in and knock it back in one, neat.

But yes, diluting it with something else does make it a lot more palatable.

in reply tofbirder

Thank you it’s the throat burning I find hard to deal with so I’ll try it with the tonic water.much appreciated.

FlorencePocket-Owl profile image
FlorencePocket-Owl in reply tofbirder

Thank you, your info is always very helpful.

SouthSounder profile image
SouthSounder in reply tofbirder

Do you find this helps? Of all the myriad of symptoms I've had with PA, I find the gut issues most limiting.

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator

I can get 'heartburn at odd moments. I will now reach for something acidic (even eating an orange) and that will resolve the situation quite quickly for me - now some of that may be psychological but in the past, before I realised that something acid would resolve it - the pain would persist and be so excruciating that the only thing I could do to ease it was throw up. Some foods are worse than others - noodles and egg sandwiches ... but they don't always cause it and I have had incidences where neither was involved.

I find lime or lemon juice in carbonated water is very palatable.

lfc4eva profile image
lfc4eva in reply toGambit62

Hi, can I just ask, is it just a normal bottle of lime juice (like the bottles for cooking) or is it one you buy in health food stores? Does it help with rumbling tummy noises? Thanks, Karen x

in reply tolfc4eva

I bought three huge lemons out of our local produce organic fruit and veg shop for £1.50 limes were the same price,just found it yesterday it’s an amazing place with all the wooden crates of fruit and veg and flowers outside the door the range was fantastic,even had huge gooseberries Id not seen those for years lol.I’m going to wash then slice and put in ziploc bags in the freezer they’ll last for ages and be easier to store that way,X

fbirder profile image
fbirder in reply tolfc4eva

I buy mine 6 L at a time from Amazon. smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/produ...

lfc4eva profile image
lfc4eva in reply tofbirder

Thanks x

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator in reply tolfc4eva

i get mine at the supermarket.

Pasjc profile image
Pasjc

Wish I could help I was part of the thread about lemon juice id heard it was good others agreed even were to buy the best juice. But a member put a very strong argument saying it wasnt so.... maybe someone will come on and give us their view x

fbirder profile image
fbirder in reply toPasjc

You are getting confused.

Lemon juice contains citric acid, so it will lower the pH (acidify) the stomach contents.

In that other thread somebody asked about lemon juice ‘alkalising’ the body. It does not. Because it is an acid.

Indeed, nothing at all ‘Alkalises’ the body. It is nonsense. It is rubbish. It is the latest scam to try to extract money from the gullible.

Pasjc profile image
Pasjc in reply tofbirder

Once again fbirder you're correct😊😊 i did buy lemon juice after the last thread so I must have taken in what you said. I got mine from Ebay very nice too x

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