CNN - Digestion and Bowel Flora Flashcards
What is the purpose of the digestive system?
Take in food, break it down, assimilate the nutrients and eliminate the waste.
Name the principle chambers that make up the digestive tract?
Mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus
Name 2 other organs that play an important role in digestion?
Liver and pancreas
Why does the stomach have an acid PH?
To kill pathogens and break down proteins.
Which part of the digestive system is concerned with the digestion of carbohydrates?
Mouth (chewing), small intestines (digestion)
Which part of the digestive system is concerned with the digestion of proteins?
Mouth (chewing), stomach (breakdown), small intestines (digestion)
Which part of the digestive system is concerned with the digestion of fats?
Mouth (chewing), small intestines (digestion)
Which part of the digestive system is concerned with the elimination of wastes?
Large intestine/colon
Name 3 things that take place within the large intestine/Colon?
Re-absorption of water
Synthesis of many B vitamins and vitamin K
Breakdown indigestible plant matter to produce pre-biotics which serve as food for pro-biotic bacteria
Why is it important to chew our food?
Poorly chewed food places tremendous pressure on the stomach and the rest of the digestive tract. Poor chewing results in less stomach acid and the food will have to stay in the stomach longer. Food passing into the small intestine will be less digested and will require more enzymes for digestion. This is a nutrient hungry process!
Name the small food molecules that are derived from (a) carbohydrates, (b) fats and (C) proteins?
(a) glucose
(b) fatty acids
(c) amino acids
Where in the digestive system are small food molecules, vitamins and minerals absorbed?
Towards the end of the small intestine
Putting personal ethics aside, why is it important to eat foods from both animal and plant sources?
Proteins from animal sources have a similar profile and composition to the human body, making them an ideal source of nutrition. Eating animal protein gives us the full complement of essential amino acids for us to synthesise all of the proteins that we require. A healthy diet will include proteins from a blend of animal and plant sources, including plenty of pulses.
Give 3 examples of problems that occur within the digestive system as a result of poorly chewed food?
Less stomach acid is produced and food will have to stay in the stomach longer.
Stress on cells in stomach wall to make stomach acid and pepsin
Food passing into the small intestine will be less digested and will require more enzymes for digestion. This is a nutrient hungry process!
Give 3 examples of health factors which can contribute to low stomach acid?
Over use of anti-acid formulations reduces stomach acidity
Zinc & B6 deficiency (used to make pepsin which is responsible for digesting protein)
Alcohol depletes Zinc (used to make stomach acid)
Chronic stress directs bodies resources away from digestion
Helicobacter pylori impairs body’s ability to make stomach acid
What is the impact of poor absorption on our health?
Poorly absorbed vitamins, minerals and trace minerals
Additional strain on the pancreas
Reduced absorption over the gut wall
Food intolerances and malnourishment
Slow gut transit time and storage of stagnating food which will create ideal environment for un-wanted yeast and bacteria
List three common problems that can occur within the large intestine/Colon?
Un-wanted yeast leading to production of toxins and excess gas
Plaque creating toxic environment for unwanted yeast and bacteria
Low beneficial bacteria leading to depletion of nutrients (B’s & K)
Why is sugar detrimental to our health?
Sugar feeds non-beneficial bacteria and yeasts in the digestive tract.
How does digestive health link to the health of the mind?
- 90% of Serotonin ‘mood hormone’ is produced in the gut wall. Our ability to make this hormone depends greatly on the integrity of the gut wall in the intestine.
- Beneficial fats are required to make healthy brain and nerve tissues. Poor digestion and absorption of fats in the digestive system will deplete the nervous system of high quality fats.
How does digestive health link of the health of the immune system?
80% of our immune tissue is situated in the digestive tract, much of this within a zone called the Peyer’s patch in the small intestine
What is bowel transit time? What is the significance of this?
The rate at which food passes through our digestive system. It takes an estimated 20-30 hours between food entering our mouth and unwanted waste exiting via the anus. A sluggish bowel will harbour stagnating food which will create an ideal environment and food source for unwanted yeast and bacteria – leading to toxins.
List 3 things that can be used to speed up bowel transit time.
Consume linseeds.
Avoid or minimise gluten
Drink plenty of fresh water.
Why is it important to minimise the strain on the digestive organs?
When foods are not fully digested, and the gut lining is permeable, undigested food molecules may pass over the gut lining. The immune system agents within the blood will not recognise these foods and may launch an immune response. Our experience of this will be food intolerance symptoms: bloating, nausea, diarrhoea, itching or lung symptoms.
List 5 things that can be done to achieve this?
Chew food Consume foods that are easier to digest Significantly reduce acid producing foods Eat a sustaining breakfast Eat regularly Time fruit intake Use digestive enzymes Delay eating if you are stressed Beware anti-acid medications
What factors cause the gut lining to become inflamed?
Consuming sugar feeds yeast which makes the gut wall more permeable and promotes the growth of undesirable gut flora. This leads to leaky gut and inflammation. Same for milk, wheat and gluten
Name 3 things that can be used to address this?
Anti-inflammatory foods e.g. inner leaf aloe vera, linseeds and glutamine.
Address potential food intolerances
Why are beneficial bacteria important to our health?
Beneficial bacteria act like marshals and keep the un-wanted bowel flora under control and thus directly preventing poor gut health and indirectly affecting mental health (serotonin and healthy brain and nerve tissue) and well-being (immune system)
Beneficial bacteria are involved in making some vitamins
List 4 things that can be done to boost the beneficial gut flora?
Reduce sugar in the diet to minimal levels
Maximise vegetables and eat fruit in moderation
Use Xylitol in place of sugar
Choose a high quality pro-biotic supplement
Kefir
Name 4 strategies that you can use to eliminate un-wanted yeast?
1Consume anti-yeast food – olive oil, garlic, I/L aloe vera, coconut oil
Use an anti-yeast preparation – oregano oil, pau d’arco, Caprylic acid, black walnut
Kefir
Why is a multi-pronged approach important for the elimination of yeast?
Combining as many of the dietary measures with the anti-yeast herbs – essentially follow a strict anti-candida diet for 12 weeks or as long as necessary.
