The Digestive System

The Digestive System

The Digestive system incorporates a lot of organs starting in with the chewing of food and saliva in your mouth to the anus and the elimination of food.  The old saying of we are what we eat is not incorrect but add into that, what we eat, how well we digest it and the nutrients provided by that food.  Food travels down our oesophagus into the acidic environment in the stomach where it is mixed with hydrochloric acid and mechanical digestion, muscular action from the stomach to help break down foods.  Alchohol enters the blood stream from the stomach.  Common complaints of the stomach, include ulceration, reflux, gastritis, helicobactor pylori. 

Food then empties into the duodenum and jejunum where it comes into contact with bile secreted from the gallbladder.  When the common bile duct which drains the gallbladder becomes blocked with stones, this is when people experience severe pain and become aware that they have gall stones.  Digestive enzymes from the pancreas are also released to help the body break down sugar.

Food then travels into the small intestine, where it stays for 7-9 hours and this is where digestion finally takes place.  The small intestine has a very large surface area and this is where digested material enters the blood stream via the microvilli and get utilised by the body.   Celiac disease suffers  have damaged villi and are unable to digest gluten, and this damage affects there absorbtion of other nutrients.  The small intestine is also populated by large amounts of the lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria. Common complaints include chrons disease, irritable bowel, and leaky gut. Food then empties into the large intestine via the illeal ceceal valve, where excess fluid is removed from the faecal matter and bacteria of the lactobacillus bifidus help to break down food, some absorbtion of nutrients also occurs.  From there food passes into the rectum where it can remain for 30-120 hours.  Common complaints are divitulis, ulcerative colitis and constipation.

As a naturopath I see a lot of clients with digestive complaints, these can  be caused by a bad diet, food allergies, gut dysbiosis parasites, etc.  A simple test to test for gut dysbiosis is a urinary indicant test which is available in store or from most naturopaths, it is an indication of leaky gut.  Leaky gut is where the villi cells in the small intestine are tightly packed by membranes, these become weak and unprocessed food then passes directly into the blood stream and our over worked liver has to process it again.  We have a great range of natural remedies to heal and support the function of the gastro intestinal system.

 Listed below is some of my favourites

• Peppermint tea, chamomile tea,  eases digestion and soothes.
• Digestive enzymes to help break down fats, proteins and charbohydrates, the body produces its own in a healthy state, but processed diets and stress compromise this action.
• Mucilagenous agents, aloe vera, slippery elm, great to sooth and heal the mucous membrane tissue in the gut.
• Amino Acid Glutamine repairs the cell membranes in leaky gut.
• Colostrum, helps repair the gut lining, immunity.
• Flax fibre taken daily is a great way of increasing regularity and getting some essential fatty acids, which are also anti inflammatory,
• Probiotics, acidophilus etc, so essential to re populate the gut with good bacteria, desensitise to food intolerances.
• Vitamin A, good for mucus membranes to heal leaky and great for the immunity, try some good quality Cod Liver Oil.

Food intolerances

Hair testing is an effective way to measure for gut intolerances and I have some vary satisfied customers who are relieved to know what it is and what not to eat, it is often common foods ingested daily,  and hidden substances including additives and preservatives, which we are not aware of, in our products.

Check out the our Health Library, where I have some further information on gut complaints and useful supplements.

Yours in good health
Tina Gale
Naturopath