| Few people are kind to their digestive system, | | | | ulcers. |
| often abusing them and then ignoring or covering | | | | The pancreas releases digestive enzymes - |
| up the signs of discomfort, stress or pain by | | | | amylase, lipase and three proteases, digestive |
| taking medication. | | | | enzymes that further break down carbohydrates, |
| Digestion begins in the mouth - enzymes in your | | | | fats and proteins. |
| saliva mix with our food and begin to work on it, | | | | There is a direct relationship between our enzyme |
| particularly on carbohydrates. Chewing increases | | | | reserve and the health of our immune system. |
| the surface area of our food making it easier for | | | | The better our enzyme reserve, the better our |
| our enzymes to do their job further down the | | | | immune system can cope with everyday battles, |
| digestive tract. Chewing also alerts the digestive | | | | of which there are many, including your eating |
| system further down the line, getting the | | | | habits. |
| pancreas and gall bladder ready. So if you chew | | | | White blood cells are responsible for seeking out |
| your food well it gives your whole digestive | | | | and destroying foreign invaders that manage to |
| system a better chance. | | | | infiltrate our blood and lymph. Studies have shown |
| Here I should mention about chewing gum - | | | | that these white blood cells have proteolytic, |
| chewing gum alerts your digestive system and | | | | amylytic and lipolytic enzymes similar to that |
| certain things are set into motion, but the | | | | produced by the pancreas for digestion. These |
| digestive system is fooled, no food! I have come | | | | enzymes break down larger molecules of |
| across many people who constantly chew gum | | | | proteins, fats and carbohydrates that have |
| and have digestive problems. Once they give up | | | | managed to get into the blood stream. These |
| chewing gum, more often than not their digestive | | | | substances are dealt with before they cause too |
| problems disappear. | | | | much havoc or destruction in our system. |
| Many people confess to gulping down their food, | | | | Interestingly, studies show depending on what you |
| hardly stopping to chew or taste their food. Often | | | | eat, directly affects your white blood cell activity. |
| paying little attention to what they eat or how | | | | Eating dead processed foods causes your immune |
| much they eat. It is a difficult habit to break and | | | | system to use up large amounts of its vital |
| will need a conscious effort. | | | | enzyme reserves. Eating live natural foods doesn't |
| The health of your mouth and teeth is so very | | | | use up such reserves, and even adds to this the |
| important at any age, as it is vital to be able to | | | | reserve. As your enzymes become depleted over |
| chew our food properly. As we get older it is | | | | the years and as you continue to eat dead food |
| even more important that we look after our | | | | your digestive system struggles more and more |
| teeth and gums. Find a dentist you like and trust. | | | | (even if you are not aware of it). The gradual |
| going to the dentist for regular visits is very | | | | depletion of enzymes means most of our food is |
| important; I would say that you need to do this | | | | not being digested properly. This situation along |
| at least every 6 months. A good dentist can | | | | with eating nutrient poor foods can lead to all |
| even alert you to any health problems just from | | | | sorts of chronic problems. Dead food is not just |
| the state of your gums. | | | | void of enzymes but more often than not also |
| Many people have over the years got into the | | | | co-enzymes (vitamins, and minerals) that enable |
| habit of not chewing well, for many different | | | | the body to manufacture more enzymes. |
| reasons. You are not going to chew your food | | | | Studies have shown low levels of enzymes in |
| properly if you have painful or sensitive teeth, | | | | diabetics. The pancreas has another function |
| sore gums or indeed if you have broken or | | | | besides producing digestive enzymes, it also |
| missing teeth. You could be making poor food | | | | produces insulin. People suffering from liver |
| choices, purely due to the state of your teeth. | | | | problems have also been found to have low levels |
| Grinding your teeth at night, many people grind | | | | of digestive enzyme activity. |
| their teeth and have no idea. The dentist can | | | | All food must be broken down into simpler |
| detect the tell tale signs of wear and tear. This | | | | molecules by enzymes. The more enzymes we |
| grinding can cause people to have jaw aches, | | | | get from your food the less your system has to |
| headaches, neck aches or many times just have | | | | manufacture, borrow or steal from other |
| sore teeth and gums making them sensitive to | | | | activities within your body, like the immune |
| everything you eat or drink. Having a mouth | | | | system. The enzymes provided by the food we |
| guard can eliminate this problem for some people. | | | | eat, aid in their own digestion, leaving the body's |
| Get a mouth guard made especially to fit your | | | | own reserves in tact to get on with other |
| teeth and mouth it's much more comfortable if | | | | metabolic jobs that are so vital to your health. |
| you do, so when you grind your teeth there is a | | | | Enzymes are the key to life, needed for every |
| cushioning to reduce the impact and pressure. | | | | reaction in our bodies, otherwise we are like a |
| Calm your anxieties with herbal teas and try to | | | | machines without batteries. Vitamins and minerals |
| avoid caffeine as it can heighten your anxieties. | | | | are also known as co-enzymes, the building blocks |
| However, for most people the problem isn't their | | | | to enzymes, sure our bodies can make enzymes |
| teeth - it's too being busy, or distractions, eating | | | | providing we are absorbing enough co-enzymes |
| on the run etc. These are some of the things you | | | | (all the vitamins and minerals needed), this is not |
| need to consider. Do not eat -a) while standingb) | | | | always the case. |
| while readingc) if you are angryd) while watching | | | | After a cooked meal our white blood cell count |
| televisione) while on the phonef) while driving | | | | goes up considerably, they would appear to aid in |
| Concentrate on what you are eating, chew well | | | | the process by providing much needed enzymes. |
| and savor your food. In truth few people pay | | | | However, when we eat raw foods there is no |
| much attention to how much they have eaten or | | | | such substantial increase in our white blood count. |
| to what they have eaten, as they are too busy | | | | Raw foods bring with them plenty of their own |
| doing something else while they eat. The small | | | | enzymes and co-enzymes, reducing our immune |
| amount of extra time needed is well worth the | | | | system's involvement. |
| investment, it will make a big difference to your | | | | The gall bladder releases its stored bile salts, which |
| digestion and ultimately your health. | | | | break down fat into smaller parts allowing lipase |
| Drinking lots of water with meals is not a good | | | | to do its job more efficiently. Bile is a greenish |
| idea as you dilute your digestive juices, but | | | | yellow colored fluid that contains cholesterol, fatty |
| drinking water 20 to 30 minutes before a meal is | | | | acids, lecithin, bilirubin, and bile salts, produced by |
| really good for the digestion. | | | | the liver. It's the bile salts that are important to |
| Saliva also helps to neutralize acidity in the mouth | | | | digestion as they help to emulsify fats, by |
| (protecting teeth) from acid in foods and drinks | | | | lowering the surface tension it allows large |
| that most people consume most of the time. | | | | particles to be broken down into tiny ones. Bile |
| Then saliva also prevents infections by controlling | | | | salts also help with the absorption of fatty acids |
| bacteria and fungi in the mouth. A dry mouth can | | | | from the intestinal tract. Bile gets its color from |
| be very uncomfortable, disturbing sleep, causing a | | | | the pigment called bilirubin, which come from |
| sore throat all having a direct or indirect effect on | | | | spent and worn out red blood cells that are |
| your digestion. There are several causes of dry | | | | removed from the blood stream for disposal. |
| mouth could be due to a certain diseases, | | | | A good working liver and gall bladder are very |
| however, the most common cause is the | | | | important to the digestion and absorption of fat. I |
| side-effect of medication in particular | | | | hear some of you say, I don't want to absorb |
| anti-histamines and diuretics (in simple terms these | | | | fat. Oh, yes you do. Some fats are essential to |
| drugs dry up the body). Other causes are | | | | our health and weight maintenance, so much so |
| dehydration, from chronic (more than short lived) | | | | they are called 'essential' fatty acids. The liver and |
| vomiting, chronic sweating, chronic diarrhea and | | | | the production of bile is a very important part of |
| fever. If you have a dry mouth you need to | | | | controlling your cholesterol levels. Spent hormones |
| consider making some life-style changes. | | | | and cholesterol are broken down by the liver and |
| Herbs - Sage or Thyme, the herbs found in your | | | | released into the gall bladder, from there |
| or dried from supermarkets can be made into a | | | | cholesterol ends up in the large intestines. |
| natural mouth wash. Take 1 tablespoon of sage | | | | Put simply, if your diet has enough natural fiber |
| or thyme per mug of boiled water - allow it to | | | | (from whole foods) and enough nutrients it will |
| stand for 10 minutes then strain, do not swallow. | | | | bind with the cholesterol and will be removed |
| This strong infusion can be used for bleeding | | | | from the body via the bowels, thus maintaining |
| gums, infections, and mouth sores. Once the | | | | good cholesterol levels. However, a diet void of |
| infusion is made keep in the refrigerator for a | | | | enough fiber and nutrients, will allow cholesterol to |
| couple of days only. The fresh leaves of sage can | | | | be reabsorbed back into the blood stream, for |
| be rubbed into the gums for gingivitis. | | | | the liver to deal with again. |
| Vitamins - take 1000mg of vitamin C each day, | | | | In the jejunum and ileum is where most of our |
| to prevent infection and bleeding gums, | | | | absorption takes place. Enzymes play a vital role in |
| maintaining healthy blood vessels. | | | | the process of absorption from the small intestine |
| Foods - sugary foods and drinks as we all know | | | | into the blood stream. To encourage maximum |
| are detrimental to your teeth and general health. | | | | absorption the lining has microscopic finger-like |
| Foods that strengthen your teeth and bones, and | | | | protrusions, called villi. These villi give our intestines |
| at the same time maintain a good acid-alkaline | | | | an enormous surface area to ensure maximum |
| balance - any dark green plants/herbs/vegetables. | | | | absorption of nutrients. |
| Buckwheat is a seed that is used like a grain. It | | | | How to ensure your body has enough enzymes? |
| contains a compound called rutin. Rutin is an | | | | At first you could take digestive enzymes in the |
| antioxidant, vitamin-like substance that protects | | | | form of capsules/tablets, these are only a |
| against capillary fragility and bruising (typical of | | | | temporary solution while you change your diet |
| many people with high blood pressure), as well as | | | | and your digestion improves. Take more live |
| bleeding gums. Buckwheat flour can be used to | | | | foods that are full of enzymes - fresh fruit, |
| make great pancakes. 'Crepes' made in Brittany | | | | vegetables, natural plain yogurt etc. However |
| where traditionally made from buckwheat. This | | | | these should be eaten raw or lightly steamed. Too |
| flour is gluten-free. | | | | much cooking easily destroys enzymes. |
| Avoid drinking black tea with food as it will hinder | | | | By the time the food has reached the large |
| the absorption of minerals like calcium, iron etc | | | | intestine (bowel or colon), a lot of what was |
| due to its high tannin levels. | | | | worth absorbing will have already been absorbed |
| Taste and smell are extremely important to | | | | by the time it reaches here. Though the entire |
| digestion as they alert the organs to excrete | | | | digestive tract contains bacteria, here in the large |
| digestive enzymes and hormones. People who are | | | | intestine is where the majority of bacteria exist, |
| short of zinc do not taste and smell their food | | | | the good, the bad and the terrible. These guys |
| particularly well, and should consider taking Zinc | | | | produce enzymes that continue to work on the |
| with a B complex. A common reaction to lowered | | | | remains of digestion. At this point water is |
| sense taste and smell, is an increased use of salt | | | | re-absorbed and the longer the waste remains in |
| and sugar. | | | | the large intestine the more water is removed, |
| Once we swallow our food it ends up in our | | | | and reabsorbed into the blood stream. This is |
| stomach, where the lining of the stomach | | | | called auto-intoxication. The more constipated a |
| secretes hormones, enzymes and hydrochloric | | | | person is the drier their stools become. |
| acid. Have you ever wondered why the stomach | | | | Somehow, many people think that they can eat |
| doesn't digest itself? This is due to the fact that it | | | | what they like and the digestive system just |
| has a very thick layer of protective mucus. In the | | | | sorts it all out. I often hear people say - a little of |
| stomach Pepsin - breaks down proteins. The | | | | this or a little of that, and a little of the other, will |
| stomach lining produces several types of | | | | do no harm, not really stopping to think of all the |
| pepsinogens, which lay dormant until they are | | | | accumulative effect it all has. Bit by bit, week by |
| mixed with hydrochloric acid. If you do not have | | | | week, year by year! |
| enough hydrochloric acid, the pepsinogens cannot | | | | The large intestines should contain a large |
| be activated into pepsin, making protein digestion | | | | abundance of the correct bacteria 'the friendly |
| very much more difficult. Hydrochloric acid is | | | | bowel flora', in order for these good guys to |
| produced by the parietal cells in the stomach lining. | | | | survive and flourish, they need the correct |
| Besides helping to break down proteins, it's vital in | | | | nourishment. These beneficial bacteria, contribute |
| the break down and ultimately absorption of | | | | to our immune defense system, and help to |
| minerals, especially calcium and iron. Having enough | | | | produce some nutrients. |
| hydrochloric acid is important to our general | | | | Modern eating habits and certain medications |
| health, as it kills bacteria, fungus etc. Generally, our | | | | contribute, encourage and feed the unfriendly |
| hydrochloric acid levels drop as we get older. | | | | flora. Antibiotics are an example - disrupting the |
| Gastric lipase splits down fats. Amylase continues | | | | balance. Antibiotics should be taken as a last |
| to break down carbohydrates. Instrinsic factor, | | | | resort, they do undoubtedly save lives, but too |
| without it we could not absorb vitamin B12, | | | | many people are taking them for minor reasons. |
| causing pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia is not | | | | This approach really isn't a good idea especially if |
| the same as the anemia that is caused by iron | | | | you are not in a high risk category - being elderly, |
| shortages. Food will stay in your stomach anything | | | | very young or have asthma etc. Just because I |
| from 1 to 5 hours, depending on what you have | | | | am a Naturopath doesn't mean I am against |
| eaten. | | | | pharmaceutical medication, however they are not |
| Some people get heart burn, what does this | | | | a good idea for simple conditions or first resort (if |
| mean? This means they suffer a lot of pain and | | | | the condition is not life threatening). Worldwide |
| reach for antacids that may or may not work, | | | | scientific news has been reporting for many years |
| have side-effects and only treat the symptoms? | | | | that antibiotics are being overused and misused, |
| Heart burn can have several causes - a weak | | | | which is causing 'drug resistant bugs' and health |
| lower esophageal sphincter (LES for short), the | | | | problems. |
| muscle (valve) that rings the base of the | | | | Yeast or fungal infections are more prevalent as |
| esophagus and the top of the stomach. | | | | the bowel flora becomes out of whack. |
| Swallowing opens the valve allowing food to enter | | | | Symptoms are varied - including headaches, aches |
| the stomach and is supposed to prevent the | | | | and pains, skin problems, respiratory problems and |
| stomach acid seeping back up into the esophagus, | | | | mucus problems, tiredness, more susceptible to |
| called "reflux", causing burning and pain in the | | | | infections and so on. |
| esophagus. Some antacids reduce the stomach's | | | | As a practitioner of natural medicine it is |
| acidity so it burns less. Others reduce the | | | | impossible not to think of the body as a complete |
| stomach acid secretion so there is less in the | | | | entity, everything you do has a knock on affect |
| stomach. Both of these do nothing to encourage | | | | on every single cell in the body. |
| the valve to function better, and certainly hinder | | | | Feed the bad guys - eat plenty of white rice, |
| digestion and absorption. | | | | plenty of white flour products like white bread, |
| There is a huge problem with this sort of | | | | when throw in some sugar for good measure, |
| treatment, as we need normal amounts of | | | | from so many foods like cakes, cookies and |
| stomach acid to digest our food properly, lowering | | | | sodas. Plenty of products contain something |
| it sets up all sorts of health problems in the long | | | | worse, 'High Fructose Corn Syrup'. This is not to |
| run. There are foods and drinks that contain | | | | be confused with the fructose that comes |
| compounds that encourage the body to increase | | | | packaged in whole fresh fruit, is not the same |
| the production of a hormone that relaxes the LES | | | | thing at all, far from it. |
| valve. These include chocolate, tea, coffee, | | | | Feed the good guys eat plenty of fresh fruit and |
| alcohol, and greasy foods (from processed fats). | | | | vegetables (remember 5 a day is a minimum |
| Being overweight increases physical pressure on | | | | recommendation), plus garlic, beans, lentils, brown |
| the stomach, and can force acid up into the | | | | rice, quinoa, millet, plain yogurt, ground flax seeds |
| esophagus. This is why heartburn is so common | | | | also know as linseeds or psyllium can be found in |
| amongst pregnant women. | | | | the supermarkets, add a teaspoon or two to a |
| Some people are in pain and take regular | | | | glass of water. |
| pain-killers, needing antacids to counteract their | | | | It is important that your bowel are functioning |
| side-effects, but they too have side-effects! Get | | | | well, constipation is not good for your overall |
| help changing some aspects of your life and diet, | | | | health. To prevent auto-intoxication, to balance |
| you will suffer less pain, take less medication, your | | | | cholesterol levels and hormones you need to |
| body will naturally have less inflammation and will | | | | consume enough natural fiber from whole foods, |
| start absorbing more nutrients, which has a | | | | which will bind with cholesterol to successfully |
| positive knock-on effect. | | | | remove it from the body before it is reabsorbed |
| The stomach's contents empties into the | | | | back into the system. Hence why the adverts on |
| duodenum where its acidity needs neutralizing | | | | lowering cholesterol extol the virtues of the |
| immediately. The pancreas produces about 2.5 | | | | soluble fiber found in oats. However, fiber from all |
| liters of pancreatic juices/enzymes a day. The | | | | sorts of natural whole foods will enhance your |
| first thing that must happen is the production of a | | | | health, ensure a good working digestive system, |
| substance rich in sodium carbonate, neutralizing | | | | feed the correct bowel flora, balance/lower |
| stomach acid, as the lining of the duodenum | | | | cholesterol and so much more. |
| cannot cope with such high acidic levels. If this | | | | Be kind to your digestive system its your |
| doesn't happen you will be prone to duodenal | | | | foundation to health. |