The importance of Gastrointestinal Health

If I asked you to name one organ most important to overall health, which one would you pick? Would it be the heart? The brain? Chances are you would completely overlook the digestive tract. It is certainly not as glamorous as the heart, but nothing is more important for your health than the 25-foot pipe extending from the mouth to the anus.

To rephrase the old saying, we are not only what we eat, but what we digest and absorb. That's why an optimally functioning gastrointestinal (GI) tract is vital for our well being and long term health. On the other hand, poorly functioning stomach and intestine can be a source of many acute and chronic health problems that will seriously interfere with your quality of life. According to Oriental medicine, the death of a person begins in his intestine.

To better understand the role of gastrointestinal tract, let's discuss the process of normal digestion.

The function of GI tract

Major components of GI tract are mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas and the liver. Each has a specific role and is extremely important for normal function of your digestive system.

Mouth is where the process of digestion begins. The process of chewing stimulates the production of digestive enzymes in the stomach. Amylase and lipase present in saliva starts the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats. Food is then carried through esophagus to the stomach.

Stomach produces hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes. The process of digestion really gets under way, with the breakdown of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Partially digested food then moves to the small intestine.

Small intestine is where the bulk of digestion and absorption takes place. Various digestive enzymes produced either by the lining of the intestine or by the pancreas continue the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Bile, produced by the liver, helps fat digestion and absorption.

As the food travels through the 25 feet of small intestine, it is reduced to molecules of sugars, amino acids and fatty acids, which are then absorbed through the wall of the small intestine. The remaining unabsorbable matter moves to the large intestine.

Large intestine (or colon) is about 5 feet long. It continues the process, compressing undigested material by removing water. And it is here that the action of the intestinal microorganisms primarily takes place.

There are trillions of bacteria, yeasts and parasites living in our intestine, primarily in the colon. Over 400 different species of organisms make colon their home. Under normal conditions, the vast majority of these bacteria are helpful to our health, while a minority is potentially pathogenic. Maintaining the right balance is vital to the well being of the whole body.

Beneficial bacteria synthesize vitamins, such as B12, biotin and vitamin K. They break down toxins and prevent proliferation of harmful microorganisms. They stimulate the immune system and produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are essential for the health of colon cells and play a role in preventing colon cancer.

There are many beneficial bacteria but the two most important are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bifidus.

What can go wrong with GI tract

As we get older, the amount of digestive enzymes produced in the stomach, pancreas and small intestine goes down. This leads to decreased digestion and absorption of nutrients and increased accumulation of putrefied fecal matter in the intestinal tract. Undigested food material and metabolic waste can also build up due to sluggish elimination, setting the stage for various health problems.

Unable to survive in this toxic environment, beneficial bacteria die. They are replaced by pathogenic organisms, such as parasites and yeasts, especially Candida albicans - a condition known as dysbiosis. This leads to changes in permeability of the intestinal wall, producing "leaky gut syndrome", which allows the absorption of many toxic chemicals into the blood stream.

As a result, the total toxic load of the body is increased, which places an additional burden on the liver and the kidneys, our main organs of detoxification and elimination. In other words, instead of being an organ responsible for supplying nutrients and eliminating waste, our GI tracts turns into a gigantic waste dump that increases the toxic burden on the already overtaxed detoxification system.

This problem is made worse by the use of junk food, alcohol, prescription and over-the-counter medications, antibiotics, pain killers and diet that is high in fat and sugar but low in fiber.

Unfortunately most people completely ignore their GI tract until it starts giving them serious problems. We spent a lot of time and efforts on keeping our body clean from outside, while doing absolutely nothing to promote and maintain healthy and clean digestive tract. What would your skin be like if you didn't take a shower for a month? A year? This might give you some idea of the state of cleanliness of your intestine.

The symptoms of GI dysfunction

Because our body is amazingly resilient, poor digestion and absorption and generally deteriorating function of the GI tract can go for years without producing any definite symptoms. When symptoms do appear they are usually general and non-specific - decreased energy, headache, fatigue, reduced resistance to infections and minor digestive problems, such as bloating, gas, belching, indigestion and constipation. These symptoms are extremely common, with well over 60 million Americans purchasing laxatives and antacids, spending over $1 billion on these drugs every year.

As the function of GI tract continues to deteriorate more serious problems appear, from asthma, allergies and arthritis to cancer. Various autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, lupus and others have been linked to poor digestive function the "leaky gut". Irritable bowel disease (IBS), Crohn's disease and colitis can appear. Chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and hives are also linked to the diseased GI tract.

In short, faulty digestion, poor absorption, altered intestinal permeability and bacterial imbalance can be traced to most chronic conditions known today. The reason should be pretty obvious - every organ and tissue of the body receives its nutrients from the intestine. If the intestine is toxic, then the blood and all the organs are toxic as well.

Restoring normal GI function

The good news is that malfunctioning GI tract can be brought back to health by improving digestion, cleansing and detoxification of the colon, providing proper amount of fiber, supporting the liver and restoring the balance of bacteria.

The first step is to eliminate junk food, sugar and refined carbohydrates and to avoid medications and alcohol.

To improve the function of the stomach and small intestine it is important to increase the amount of enzymes available for digestive process. This is accomplished by taking a supplement containing various enzymes necessary for improved digestion.

This alone will often improve most of the symptoms of bloating, indigestion, cramps and constipation. In addition, there is evidence that enzymes can be helpful in restoring circulation, reducing inflammation and improving other non-gastrointestinal problems.

Cleansing and detoxification of the GI tract is accomplished by using a combination of herbs and fiber that help remove undigested food, fecal matter, putrefied remains of the dead microorganisms and other waste products from the walls of the intestine. They also gently stimulate the natural peristaltic movement, resulting in improved elimination.

Another important function of these herbal extracts is to fight pathogenic microorganisms, such as Candida albicans and other yeasts, bacteria and parasites. Reducing the amount of these unfriendly bugs improves the health of not only the colon but of the entire body.

One of the many functions of the liver is to keep the body clean by removing toxins and pollutants from the blood. That's why liver is sometimes called the "body's sewer processing plant". A number of herbs, particularly Milk Thistle, provide needed support and protection to the liver cells.

To improve the balance of intestinal microorganisms it is important to provide a supplement of friendly bacteria, also called pro-biotics. A good supplement will contain a mix of all the major (L. acidophilus and B. bifidus) as well as minor bacteria. This step is absolutely essential in order to restore proper intestinal function.

Studies show that friendly bacteria will do a better job in the presence of pre-biotics, substances that nourish and support them. One such substance is fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). This is a type of fiber that is used by Acidophilus and Bifidus bacteria as a source of nutrients.

Restoring the balance of intestinal microorganisms is a key in eliminating the leaky gut syndrome. Certain substances, particularly and amino acid glutamine, are also important in this regard.

Summary

The digestive system is like the roots of a tree. When the roots are strong, the tree will be strong and healthy. When the roots are diseased, the whole tree will suffer. Nutrition, digestion, absorption, bacterial balance and intestinal permeability all play crucial roles in the health of the GI tract and of the whole body.

Take care of your GI tract, make it healthy and functional, because it could very well be the most important thing in improving your chances of long, disease-free life.

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