A few friends and I started a new low-carb diet. They’re already dropping pounds but my weight has actually gone up! What gives?
I suspect a condition known as acidosis could be to blame. The problem: The process of digesting sugar, meat, dairy and refined flours creates acidic by-products in the body. These are the very foods we tend to eat more of over the holidays, so come January, most of us have excess acid in our system. That’s a problem for the kidneys, which play a key role in eliminating acid—as well as other fat-trapping waste—from the body. When the kidneys become bogged down, weight can start to creep up. And adopting a low-carb, high-protein diet only increases acidity further.
The Rx: Start the day by mixing 1 tsp. of green powder into your juice. Also aim to eat at least four 1-cup servings of green vegetables, like kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts and broccoli, daily. These alkalizing veggies neutralize the acid compounds in your system, so you’ll start to see excess pounds melting away within two weeks.
