Your Natural Alternatives - Importance of Digestion

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Do you chew your food thoroughly?

That's the first step in good digestion.

The mechanical breakdown of your meal begins when your teeth grind food. Saliva triggers the start of the chemical breakdown that causes digestion.

Once food travels to your stomach, you need adequate amounts of hydrochloric acid to break up dietary proteins.

You may be among the millions of Americans who do not produce enough hydrochloric acid.

This can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, osteoporosis, hardening of the arteries, arthritis, colon cancer, food allergies and autoimmune disease.

Enzymes take over:

Hydrochloric acid and other factors trigger your pancreas to release enzymes once food moves to the small intestine.

Pancreatic enzymes play an important role in the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The Pancreas produces about one quart of pancreatic fluid per day which consists of enzymes, water and electrolytes.

An insufficient amount of pancreatic enzymes can contribute to many of the same problems as inadequate stomach acid.

What Are Enzymes --- Exactly ?

Enzymes are protein based substances found in every cell of all living things. They are essential for eating, digesting, absorbing, seeing, hearing, smelling, breathing, kidney function, liver function, reproduction, elimination, etc.(Renew Life, Enzymes p2)

Enzymes are catabolic, breaking foods down into more simpler, usuable components.

Enzymes Produced By the Body:

Amylases - digests complex carbohydrates

Proteases - digests proteins

Lipases - digest fats.

Lactase - digests milk and milk sugar

Maltase - digests starch derived sugars

Enzymes Derived From Foods:

Cellulast - breaks down plant fiber

Invertase - digests refined sugars and breaks them down into single sugars

Pectinase and Phytase - digests phytates (found in legumes, grains, tubers)

More Info ...

Nutrients in your food are absorbed into your bloodstream from both the small and large intestine.

Food that isn't digested completely will not be absorbed, partially digested proteins can cause significant gastrointestinal irritation (such as colitis, gas or nervous stomach , leaky gut syndrome) and can lead to food allergies.

Bacteria some good, some bad:

Many different microbes live in your intestinal tract, and it's normal to have trillions. Ideally, you have "friendly" bacteria to aid with digestion, vitamin production and immune defense.

Unfortunately, many common activities can destroy the delicate balance of bacteria.

Using antibiotics, steroids or hormone pills, or a diet high in fat and sugar wreaks havoc on bacterial levels, leading to imbalances in bacteria and yeast, which can lead to illness.

Immune function protects:

Chronic infection, food allergies or inadequate nutrition can result in poor immune defenses in your intestine.

With lowered resistance, less bacteria are able to colonize, and infection or allergies are more likely to develop.

Gastrointestinal Health Is the Goal!

For proper gastrointestinal health, your body must carefully coordinate the breakdown, absorption and elimination of food.

Bacteria must be in proper balance, and immune function must be adequate.

The Comprehensive Digestive Test provides an easy, effective evaluation of how well your gastrointestinal tract performs these essential functions.

Resources:
ReNew Life
Brenda Watson
Dr.James Balch

Disclaimer: The information presented is for information purposes only. It is based on scientific studies or traditional usage. Consult a health care professional before using supplements or making any changes in prescription medications. The information and statements contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any dis-ease.

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