DIGESTION Part 2 WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
Assuming you’ve read Part 1, DIGESTION - WHEN THINGS GO RIGHT (or you remember your anatomy class…yay you!), you have a basic working knowledge of a normally functioning digestive system and its ability to adeptly transform and assimilate nutrients. Sadly, 60-70 million Americans are affected by some form of notable gastrointestinal complaint. High number that it is, it adds up to staggering when we consider un-reported cases and the rest of the world’s population that was not surveyed. Certainly, there are passing grievances like an occasional upset stomach but, based off of growing sales of over the counter remedies and supplements, many of these undocumented complaints are chronic.
One or more places along the alimentary route can be out of sync at any given time and finding the source of trouble might not be straightforward. In Part 2 of this three part series, we examine common ways the operation can be jeopardized and a few typical manifestations. Since digestion is a north to south process, it’s always best to start the investigation from the top.
Stress, fatigue, emotion, becoming “hangry”, or being overly immersed in an activity, steals the brain’s attention. It is shockingly easy to dismiss drops in blood sugar, the sight, or the aroma of food. (Admit it…how many of you ignore a grumly tumbly or “forget” to eat because you’re too busy?) These scenarios along with a number of others, including medications and conditions that cause dry mouth, can diminish or shut down saliva production. Add to this not practicing Mindful Eating, and not only is salivary production affected, but taking the time to thoroughly grind bites of food when we do finally eat is out the window. Pieces end up swallowed partially or fully intact, and are likely chased down with a flood of gulps from a beverage.
Instead of the pharynx effortlessly swallowing the smooth, moist puree of an ideally prepared bolus, and the esophagus rhythmically passing it toward the stomach, these areas become vulnerable to irritation due to unmasticated hunks, frequently containing scratchy edges, and the accompanying sensation of a lump of food feeling (or actually getting) stuck. This can provoke coughing, gaging, pain, excess drool, or heartburn. Once the underprepared bolus makes the uncomfortable journey to end of the esophagus, the lower esophageal sphincter can be stressed and the north to south trajectory can become disordered. Stomach contents reverse course and burning, pain, and known and lesser known symptoms of GERD may transpire.
The stomach, already not suitably prepped by a preoccupied brain, won’t be ready to accept a bolus, let alone unchewed fragments. It will have to work twice as hard to churn unmashed food. Stress, advancing age, medications (particularly antacids), zinc deficiency, an etiolated diet, and some health conditions (both short term and chronic) can hamper the production of stomach fluids, specifically Hydrochloric Acid (HCL). These gastric juices are critical to maintaining the necessarily acidic pH that further breaks down the bolus, signals other critical responses, and prepares nutrients for absorption later in the tract.
Although saliva has some antibacterial properties, the stomach is where most food related pathogens are killed. If the stomach is low on essential gastric juices, it can wreak havoc on the rest of the digestive system prompting dyspeptic complaints, make one vulnerable to food borne illnesses, parasites, an overgrowth of bad bacteria or yeast, and, counterintuitive as it may seem, reflux.
A diet devoid of healthy fats can cause major issues such as unstable blood sugar, difficulty maintaining focus, mood instability, improper absorption of certain nutrients (e.g.: fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K), and surprisingly, provoke hemorrhoids. Most interesting, a low or no fat diet can cause our gallbladders to become sluggish and vulnerable to developing sludge or gallstones. Without the flow of bile, the liver will become stressed and congested, fats can’t be emulsified, appetites lack regulation, gut and metabolism hormones won’t be triggered, sex hormones won’t be synthesized, the intestines are more likely to become irritated, there is an increased risk of pancreatitis, toxins won’t be effectively flushed, and inflammatory conditions of the bowel may ensue.
If the pyloric sphincter isn’t able to efficiently release the inadequately pulverized chyme into the duodenum, the contents of the stomach will begin to putrefy. Belching, nausea, heartburn, bloating, and bad breath are a few customary complaints.
If the poorly digested chyme does reach the small intestine, its crude state will be more likely to cause irritation in the lining contributing to leaky gut, a host of maladies, and inflammatory conditions. If the chain reaction of signals that trigger functions such as bile flow or pancreatic enzymes doesn’t take place due to breakdowns in the framework, unhealthy bacteria or yeast may proliferate, malabsorption can supervene, and discomfort ensue.
The iliocecal valve modulates the passing of the chyme to the large intestine but may struggle with it if it is has not been thoroughly processed in the small intestines. If the food sits in the intestines too long, it will rot and the toxic burn off will be absorbed into the body. Constipation is a familiar side effect. If the valve isn’t closing properly, chyme and waste from the large intestine can travel back into the small intestine, irritating it and the valve itself. This can lead to diarrhea.
By the time the chyme reaches the large intestine, it should be devoid of most nutrients and a large portion of water. Remaining moisture is absorbed and recycled, residual nutrients are captured, and a colony of bacteria creates Vitamin K, B1, B12, and butyric acid. The remnant of these microscopic measures is feces. If the chyme still has bits of undigested food in it, there will be evidence of it in the stool. If the colon itself is dehydrated due to lack of a “wet diet”, the gut micro biome is severely out of balance, or if the diet is missing key nutrients including Vitamin C, Magnesium, and fiber, they will be difficult to pass. If these conditions are present the not so pleasant, and even painful, combination of gas and bloating will permeate (literally and figuratively).
The pressure of compacted stool sitting in the colon and the difficulty in passing it can create or exacerbate existing hemorrhoids. Intestinal obstructions or blockages, and fecal impaction can also occur. Transit time of an affected digestive system can be very short and include bouts of diarrhea, or very long, with incomplete evacuation of bowels and ongoing, stubborn constipation....not to mention leaving behind lingering, pungent odors from the foul smelling contributions deposited in the loo.
As you can see, digestive dysfunction is rarely isolated and is often a cascading effect. For instance, even though symptoms may present in the colon, the problem could very likely be originating from higher up in the chain of command. Other seemingly unrelated health complaints like hormone imbalances, headaches, achy joints, kidney problems, and sleep issues, can in fact stem from or be aggravated by failures in the digestive tract - all of which should take into account consequential contributing factors such as a history of antibiotic or steroid use, food sensitivities, emotional trauma, injuries, and infections. However, it would be short sighted to infer that a non-optimal digestive process is the sole reason for all health problems. Rather, this exercise points out the critical role a smooth running system plays in supporting vitality, easing conditions, and possibly reducing vulnerability to or avoiding altogether certain preventable diseases.
I urge you to seek medical attention if your symptoms are persistent, unexplainable, or disruptive. Notwithstanding, an important question to ask yourself is, if you could improve the quality of your life and lighten your burdens by fine-tuning your digestion, wouldn’t you want to try? If so, be sure to read the final article in this series DIGESTION – PROVIDING SUPPORT and contact your favorite FNTP (that’s me!) for targeted help.
Chew well!
Marie Stumphauzer, FNTP
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Image courtesy of magnolia box.com
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