HEALTHY LIVING

by

Eva Warren

Digestion and Your Health

The core well being of every living thing is dependent on how well the digestion of that living being is. We tend to take our digestion for granted yet many disorders can occur in the digestive tract. This month we will look at digestion and the many ways it can affect our health, positively and sometimes negatively.

The sight, smell, taste and even thinking about food triggers our digestive response. Saliva begins to secrete enzymes which soften and dissolve food. If people do not fully chew the food or if food is washed down with liquid between bites, digestive dysfunction may result. Amylase, an enzyme found in saliva, is released by chewing the food well and grinding it with the teeth. This enzyme helps dissolve and digest the food. We can see why not chewing food enough may affect our digestion.

Involuntary muscle action known as peristaltic motion causes the food to slide down the esophagus into the stomach. Once it is in the stomach it is converted into a soupy mixture known as chyme. HCI, otherwise known as hydrochloric acid is secreted in the stomach. It is HCI, along with the muscle contractions of the stomach which create the chyme. As we age the production of HCI slows down so it may be necessary to supplement with food enzymes containing HCI to aid in digestion. HCI kills microbes that may be present in the food we eat. HCI works along with pepsin to digest protein present in the food we eat. HCI is so strong it could burn the skin. The mucosal lining of the stomach however protects the stomach wall from any damage from HCI. Meanwhile the HCI does its job of killing unhealthy microbes before they can do any damage to the body.

Many variables control the time food stays in the stomach. Physical stress, the quality of the food, and nutrients available all may affect digestive time. For instance, a piece of fruit could take thirty minutes to digest where as a steak could take several hours.

The chyme leaves the stomach, after it is produced, through the pyloric valve entering the small intestine. The small intestine is made up of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The nutrition of the food is absorbed in the small intestine. The mucous membranes of the small intestine produce enzymes. These enzymes from the small intestine are further augmented by enzymes from the liver and the pancreas. Each enzyme breaks down a specific type of nutrient. Lipase acts on fat, amylase on carbohydrates and protease for the protein. Maximum absorption of the nutrients take place with the help of villi and microvilli. These are small finger-like projections which increase the surface area of the small intestines.

The large intestine takes over the digestion elimination process once the nutrients are absorbed. Here beneficial bacteria, also known as probiotics does its works. four to five hundred types of bacteria exist in the large intestine. Lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, fucobacteria, bacteroides, eubacteria, peptococcaceae, rheumanococcus and streptococcus are just a few of these beneficial bacteria which literally take care of the elimination of waste in the large intestine. Water is absorbed in the large intestine as well to form the stools which we eliminate. The stools are made up of undigested fiber, body toxins, water and bacteria.

A number of disorders can develop in the digestive tract. Constipation is a common complaint. Indigestion is common as well. Some other common disease states may be peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disorder. A peptic ulcer is a sore found on the stomach lining or duodenum. A bacterial infection such as Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) may be the cause. There are herbal combinations which may help this condition.

Constipation is the most common complaint in the United States concerning digestion and elimination. Two million annual visits to doctors result from constipation. Constipation and the symptoms of bloating, pain, cramping all interfere with the normal flow of the digestion and elimination cycle. Lack of fiber in the diet can be a big factor in the waste products of our bodies moving out and being eliminated. Most of us need a minimum of thirty five grams of fiber daily, more is better.

You may think a mild case of indigestion is nothing to worry about. Think again. Without proper digestion we do not get the nutrition out of the food we eat. Most food intolerances and allergies occur from compromised digestion. When large molecules of normally acceptable food get into the bloodstream our bodies mark them as toxic invaders. This sets off the attack by the immune system. Thus our immune systems may be compromised.

The immune system is strongly connected with the digestive system. Jordan Rubin, N.M.D. founder of Garden of Life states, "Research shows between sixty and eighty percent of the immune system is in the form of gut-associated lymphoid tissue." Thus, gut health is necessary for immune health.

Another concern is what kind of food you eat. Is it fresh from the organic market or grocery store? Fruits and vegtables start to lose nutrients from the time they are picked. It is best to pick organic food fresh from the garden, but few of us can do that so we do the best we can. Fresh or frozen fruits, vegetables and whole grains are better than canned. Fiber in food is found in whole fruits and vegetables. Beans, peas, legumes, oats, bran and other whole grains, nuts and seeds are good fiber for our bodies. Make an effort to count the grams of fiber you are taking in daily.

Food enzymes may be needed as we age. Our bodies are amazing for all the complicated actions it performs which we take for granted daily. Enzymes can help your body keep on keeping on. Enzymes can improve the ph balnce of the body, digestion and help maintain healthy flora within the intestinal tract. Gabrielle Sill of Specialty Enzymes and Biochemicals states simply, " Everyone should be taking enzymes." Manufacturers agree, regardless of the source or company, take enzymes. Look for a balanced enzyme with proteases, lipase, amylases, lactase,and cellulase to do the job well.

This information is meant to inform. It is not meant to diagnose, prescribe or treat in any way. Always check with your health care professional.

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Eva is a graduate of the American Institute of Holistic Theology and practices as a Doctor of Naturology. You may reach her at littleherbshoppe@hotmail.com

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