Digestion 1-2-3
Posted by Dr. Della Parker on December 23, 2015
Digestion 1-2-3
The holidays are here and I know… Santa told me… You are all eating like crap! So I thought I would write up a quick description of the digestive process to help you pinpoint what ails ya. Below I have listed the job, the prob, and the fix for the 3 main areas of digestion. Enjoy!
- Stomach
Job: To break down proteins. A healthy stomach should be full of acidic digestive juices to break down those proteins and signal the rest of the digestive happenings.
Prob: Smelly gas! Uh-oh. This is everyone’s least favorite of the gasses. If proteins are not broken down properly they become rancid. That rancidity just festers all the way down that tube until it is released as a gawd awful smell. This means dense proteins, like your holiday ham or roast are just going to make things worse.
Fix: Well, you need to add more acid at the top of that tube to get those proteins handled. My favorite product for this is Zypan by standard process, but you will have to see me to get the goods. A more mild remedy can be achieved at home by using apple cider vinegar. I generally recommend 1 tsp before each meal. Your friends and family will thank you!
- Small Intestine
Job: This is where fats are broken down. Fats don’t really get broken down, they get emulsified. This happens when the gallbladder dumps bile into the small intestine. This calls for a working gallbladder or to have one at all!
Prob: Nausea, burping, and bloating. Slathering butter on things is normally a good time, but not if your fats aren’t being emulsified. Burping can also be a good time… if you’re at a frat party that is. But if you’ve moved on from your frat days then you will need to get you small intestine, aka duodenum fixed up in order to feel better.
Fix: There are couple things that can help. First off stimulating bile release will help. Bile salts can be purchased at most natural food stores. Of course I prefer specialized whole food products like cholacol. The other thing you can do is soothe that irritated duodenum. Aloe juice can heal up an irritated small intestine which will decrease some of your discomfort.
- Large Intestine
Job: This is land of carbohydrate break down. This is process occurs thanks to an enzyme called amylase. Amylase is mostly secreted by the pancreas. There are also small amounts in your saliva. The pancreas? Yeah I know you thought that thing was all about blood sugar!? Well, it is but it has what we call an exocrine function in addition to its endocrine function. Blah blah blah it releases enzymes for digestion too.
Prob: When carbs are just chillin’ they become fermented. This also creates gas. But not the smelly variety. More like the wind variety. Not silent but deadly, more like loud and proud cause there’s no odor. Cookies, cakes, pies… yep they are all going to ramp up that that fermentation process. Did you just think yeast when you hears fermentation? You are so smart! Yes, this is how that yeasty gut can form. The evil, ever hard to kill, candida.
Fix: Lactic acid yeast, is also a standard process product, and it is wonderful to help the large intestines break up that air. Products that contain pancreatic enzymes such as amylase or pancreatin can also be helpful. Once that yeast has flared you are in a whole other state. Call for an appointment and I will fix you right up ( ;
Bio-Gest Is a product that can be found on my web store. It contains HCL to help #1, ox- bile to help #2, and Pancreatin to help #3. That should cover all your bases!
Remember, I always recommend a healthy diet. But it is the holiday season and I think you should be rewarded for eating well the rest of the year. So eat responsibly and take your supplements first!
Cheers!