The Digestive System: Your Body's Energy System

It is no secret that vibrant health begins with the body's ability to properly digest nutrients and eliminate waste.  In fact, the more efficiently your body performs these functions, the healthier you are likely to be.  That's because nearly three-quarters of your immune system is located in your digestive tract, so good digestion is the key to feeling your best everyday.  To understand how the digestive system works, it helps to first examine the different parts of the body involved in the digestive process.

It's not what you eat, it's what you properly digest.

The Mouth:  Digestion begins in the mouth, where the process of chewing breaks down food into smaller particles and releases its natural digestive enzymes.  During the chewing process, the body also releases its own natural enzymes in the mouth {contained in saliva}, which further help break down food.

The Stomach:  The digestive process continues in the stomach, where powerful acids are released to further convert food into nutrients that the body can absorb and use. Hydrochloric acid {HCI} is the most abundant acid in the stomach.  Hydrochloric acid is highly beneficial due to its ability to break down food particles and help destroy harmful bacteria.  {The stomach lining is coated with mucus that protects it from the Hydrochloric acid.}

The Small Intestine:  The majority of the digestive process occurs in the small intestine, where roughly 90 percent of beneficial nutrients are absorbed from food.  A thin coating of mucus along the wall of the small intestine consists mainly of  the amino acids N-acetyl D-glucosamine and L-glutamine, which work together to provide natural intestinal support.  This mucosal lining performs two very important functions: the first is to allow nutrients access to the bloodstream, where they are then transported to all the cells of the body.  The second is to prevent the passage of large, undigested food particles and other harmful organisms form entering the bloodstream.

The Large Intestine:  The last 5 feet of the gastrointestinal tract through which food residue passes is the large intestine, or colon.  Here the final stages of digestion occur as the water and nutrients not absorbed by the small intestine are now absorbed in the colon.  The remaining waste becomes fecal matter, which will eventually be eliminated through the rectum {the chamber at the end of the large intestine.}

Impaired Digestion is a growing concern, while sixty million Americans suffer. It is the leading cause of illness in this country, and one that can ultimately lead to chronic disease. Impaired digestion involves the improper breakdown and absorption of food, and consequences can include:

•  Constipation
•  Gas and bloating
•  Leaky gut
•  Poor nutrient absorption
•  Heartburn
•  Lowered production of hydrochloric acid {HCI}
•  Pancreatic impairment {reduced enzyme production}
•  Imbalanced intestinal pH
•  Food sensitivities

I have such a passion for the digestive system and the way it operates. I get clients who come to me with a whole host of issues concerning the digestive tract.  Candida, constipation, diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Parasites. All of these issues are treatable.

Tomorrow we will discuss: The Causes of Impaired Digestion.