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Nutrition 1 > Digestion and Health > Flashcards

Digestion and Health Flashcards

1
Q

Define digestion

A

The process of breaking down food by mechanical and chemical action in the digestive tract into substances that can be used by the body

We must view the digestive system as the system that is responsible for transforming the food that we ingest into these crucial nutrients that can nourish the cells and the tissues of the body

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2
Q

What are the three primary functions of the digestive system?

A
  1. Digestion.
    - Mechanical: chewing; peristalsis
    - chemical: gastric juices, pancreatic enzymes, bile, and and enterocyte enzymes
  2. Absorption.
    90% in the small intestine primarily to the blood and for hydrophobic substances, the lymph
  3. Excretion
    Via the intestines as faeces and also via urine, skin and lungs
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3
Q

The digestive system is made up of the digestive tract and accessory organs. Name these.

A

Digestive tract
Mouth
Pharynx
Oesophagus
Stomach
Small and large intestine

** accessory organs**
Salivary glands
Pancreas
Liver
Gallbladder and Biliary tract

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4
Q

Describe the pathway of food down the digestive tract

A

Mouth
Pharynx – Skeletal muscle
Oesophagus - skeletal muscle at the top and smooth muscle further down
Lower oesophageal sphincter
Stomach – uniquely made up of 3 layers of muscle
Chyme exit through the pyloric sphincter
Enters the small intestine …first part of duodenum then jejunim and then ilium
Large intestine - cecum with attached appendix – Colon
Rectum
Anus

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5
Q

What is the biliary tree?

A

The biliary tree is a network of tubes to carry bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine.

It has two main branches/ducts:

  1. The common bile duct which brings bile down from the gallbladder.
  2. The pancreatic duct which brings pancreatic enzymes down from the pancreas.

These two ducts join together to form a small tube that empties the contents from both into the duodenum.

Bile is used to break down fats.

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6
Q

How does digestion begin in the oral cavity?

A

Chewing
- breaks down food into smaller chunks
- triggers the salivary glands to release saliva containing the
enzyme amylase, which breaks down long carbohydarte cjains found in starchy foods.

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7
Q

How can we help facilitate digestion in the mouth

A
  1. Chew food up to 20 times until it is a paste. The more chewing the salivary amylase and the mote mechanical breakdown.Salivary amylase is denatured in the stomach and becomes inactive so need to make the most of it in the mouth.
  2. Avoid drinkling at meals so as not to dilute saliva and gastic juices.

Optimal saliva pH pf 6.8

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8
Q

What effects saliva pH?

A

The pH in the mouth can be lowered by

Food:
- refined sugars
- meat and dairy
- processed foods
- chewing gum
- Coffee and alcohol

Non Food:
- Chronic stress
- Sedentary life
- Exposure to heavy metals from (dental amalgams)
- cigarettes

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9
Q

What happens in the stomach when the bolus of food moves through the oesophegeal sphincter into the stomach?

A
  1. Food stretches the stomach leading to
    - release of the hormone gastrin
    - stimulation of the enteric nerves in the stomach wall.
  2. This stimulates peristalsis of the stomach leading to the release and formation of gastric juice containing
    - HCl
    - the digestive enzymes (lipase and pepsinogen).
  3. The stomach churns the bolus, mixing it with the gastric juice to break down food
  4. The point of exit of the stomach is the pyloris which carries the bolus now in the form of chyme out of the stomach and into the first part of the small intestine – the duodenum.
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10
Q

What are the two enzymes released from the stomach wall?

A

Pepsinogen - an inactive enzyme which becomes active when exposed to HCl and converts into pepsin which breaks down protein into smaller protein chains

Gastric lipase which breaks down fats.

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11
Q

Where does absorption takes place in the GIT

A

90% in the small intestine and most of that in the Jejunum.

We don’t get a lot of absorption from the stomach except for some water, alcohol, iodone and fluoride.

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12
Q

What are the key actions stomach acid performs?

A
  • Breaking down proteins (pepsin) and fats (lipase).
  • acidic chyme from the stomach entering the duodenum triggers pancreatic juice and bile release into the duodenum (via ‘CCK)
  • Eliminates micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, protecting against infection.
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13
Q

What are the nutrietns required to produce HCl

A
  • Zinc - nuts, seeds (esp. pumpkin seeds), eggs, oysters, fish and meat.
  • B6 -whole grains, sunflower, seeds, legumes, walnuts, green vegetables, carrots, potatoes, avocado, fish.
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14
Q

What can cause low HCl in the stomach

A
  1. Chronic stress - sympathetic dominance
  2. Low vitamin B6 and zinc because they are required to produce HCl
  3. Medications such as proton pump inhibitors that reduce stomach acid.
  4. Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection (a bacterium associated with gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer).
  5. Ageing (production gradually declines over the age of 50).
  6. Autoimmune gastritis - an autoimmune attack on the stomach itself that will also damage the parietal cells which are responsible for synthesizing HCl
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15
Q

What are proton pump inhibitors and how do they work?

A

Proton Pump Inhibitors are given for indigestion, reflux, heartburn, chrones disease.
Omeprazole is a popular one. It works on the hydrogen pump in the stomach and blocks it. If we can’t get hydrogen into the stomach then the chloride has nothing to bind to and we don’t get the formation of acid.

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16
Q

What are some examples of the downstream impact on health (not symptom) of low HCl in the stomach

A
  1. Poor protein digestion, resulting in protein putrefaction in the small intestine. This creates compounds called ‘polyamines’ which are implicated in colorectal cancer.
  2. Undigested food allows bacteria to proliferate in the small intestine (where they would not normally reside in large numbers) leading to Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO).
  3. Reduced gastric activity results in less intrinsic factor (a glycoprotein secreted from parietal cells in the stomach), compromising B12 absorption.
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17
Q

What are signs of low stomach acid

A

Low stomach acid can present as:
- Bloating, belching and flatulence within 1–2 hours after meals.
- Abdominal pain and ‘fullness’ after eating, with foul-smelling stools.

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18
Q

How can we increase stomach acid?

A

Consume
- Apple cider vinegar in a little water before meals.
- Bitter herbs and foods because they stimulate stomach acid release. They should be taken 15–20 minutes before meals. These include gentian (extremely bitter; found in Swedish bitters), barberry bark, andrographis, dandelion and goldenseal. Also include bitter foods such as rocket, chicory, artichoke and watercress.
- a diet rich in fruit and vegetables.
* fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut.
* Himalayan and sea salt provide the chloride for HCl.
* Zinc and B6-rich foods because they are needed to produce HCl

Avoid
- over-eating
- unmindful fast consuming meals (eat mindfully and relaxed ).
- processed foods.

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19
Q

What is CCK and how might it be inhibited.

A

The hormone CCK is effectively the signal that tells the gallbladder and the pancreas to get involved in the chemical digestion of the chyme.

As acidic chyme is ‘drip-fed’ through the pyloric sphincter into the duodenum, the hormone CCK is released from the duodenal wall
- triggering the release of pancreatic juice and bile
- Inducing a sense of satiety (fullness).

The acidic pH of the Chyme is one of the key drivers to release of CCK. IF THE CHYME IS LOW (needs to be 2) IN ACID CCK IS NOT ENGAGED.

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20
Q

What is the main function of the small intestine?

What are the three regions of the small intestine and what are their main functions?

A

90% of nutrition absorption takes place in the small intestine. This is mostly due to its large surface area. It’s a long structure and then it has villi to increase the surface area.

Duodenum - most digestion occurs here with some absorption of vitamins and minerals.

Jejunum - most absorption into the blood and Lymph occurs here

Ileum - vitamin B12 is absorbed .

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21
Q

What aids absorption in the small intestine?

A

The large surface area created by villi that contain blood and lymphatic capillaries and microvilli (aka brush border)

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22
Q

How is coeliac disease connected to the small intestine?

A

Someone with coeliac who ingest gluten will trigger an immune system attack on the villi where the gluten is being absorbed into. This will destroy the villi border causing waste and atrophy and a loss of surface area. The result is malabsorption.

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23
Q

What is the function of brush border enzymes?

Name the enzyme and their function

A

They break double chained carbohydrates and proteins allowing them to be absorbed

Maltase, sucrase and lactase breakdown sugars into glucose, fructose, galactose etc

Dipeptidase breaks down proteins into amino acids

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24
Q

At what state of breakdown do carbohydrates, proteins and fats need to be in order to be absorbed, where are they absorbed from and where do they go?

A

Proteins need to be broken down into amino acids; Carbohydrates into single sugars
Both enter the blood capillaries of the small intestine to be sent to liver via the portal vein

Fatty acids including soluble vitamins A D, E and K leave small intestine and enter into the lymphatic capillaries of the small intestine

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25
Q

Why might sluggish elimination lead to disease. Give some examples?

A

If everything is a bit sluggish in the colon then hormones and toxins are not eliminated and can re-enter the blood and be reactivated.

If this happens with oestrogen, we get oestrogen dominance which favours disease is like endometriosis, ovarian cancer and breast cancer

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26
Q

????What are the two basic functions of the pancreas?

A

The exocrine function of the pancreas is to produce enzymes that digest carbohydrates, proteins and fats and are sent down the pancreatic duct and secreted into the small intestine

The endocrine function of the pancreas is to release hormones such as insulin and ????glucose that are leaked into the blood

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27
Q

How is the pancreas connected to the duodenum?

A

Via a duct known as the pancreatic duct

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28
Q

What does poor pancreatic enzyme production present as in the body?

A

Throughout the small and large intestine, the presence of undigested food will lead to fermentation and the production of gas within the digestive tubes. Therefore:

  • Bloating, flatulence and abdominal pain about one hour after eating
  • Floating stools because the fats are not digested and therefore float
  • Weight loss because you’re not absorbing nutrients
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29
Q

Name all of the digestive enzymes and the location in which they are found.

A
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30
Q

Name all the digestive enzymes and what they are digesting

A
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31
Q

What are the problems that occur with overeating, excessive consumption of dense protein and junk food?

A
  1. Overburdening the digestive system demands huge amounts from organs like the stomach and pancreas to break this down.
  2. Heavy intense food in particular demand a lot of ATP. Instead of using 10% of daily energy expended to digest food, this can increase to 50%.
  3. Digestive enzymes are depleted
  4. Energies directed away from healing.
  5. Not all the food can be digested, resulting in malnutrition and bodily dysfunction
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32
Q

What are the three basic rules that support daily digestive system health?

A
  1. Do not eat more than three meals a day.
  2. Avoid overeating and snacking between meals and if you are going to snack do it close to mealtimes.
  3. Don’t drink with meals.
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33
Q

What were the findings of Bernard Jensen?

A
  1. undigested materials are stored in the lining of the intestines impairing the absorption delivery of nutrients to the body.
  2. When under digested materials are stuck in the lining of the colon wall it creates an optimal environment for parasites and fungus to flourish.
  3. Supporting detoxification is key to aid the bodies elimination of waste

Jensen also loved vegetable broth

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34
Q

What is the function of the gallbladder, where is it located and what does it look like?

A

The gallbladder stores and releases bile that is produced by the liver.

It is 7 to 10 cm in length, pear shaped and very muscular.

It sits under the liver

35
Q

How does the gallbladder do its job of storing and releasing bile?

A

Bile ducts collect bile produced by the liver before pulling it in the gallbladder.

When the gallbladder contracts (predominantly after eating fat) it pushes bile into the common bile duct and then the duodenum.

36
Q

What are the four main functions of the gallbladder?

A
  1. Fat emulsification.
    A blob of fat is dispersed and broken up into chunks which increases the surface area of a pancreatic lipase to work on
  2. Carrying detoxified products from the liver.
    After the liver has detoxified harmful materials, it excrete them into bile, which provides a medium for excreting these substances
  3. Stimulating peristalsis.
    Bile present within the lumen of the intestines as a trigger for intestinal peristalsis and hence the removal of waste.
  4. Excreting excess cholesterol.
    Bile contains excess cholesterol of the body wishes to excrete
37
Q

What are the implications of poor bile flow?

A

Bile is crucial for breaking down fats and absorbing fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). When bile flow is reduced, a variety of issues can emerge;

  1. Fat emulsification is compromised so it takes longer to break down the fat and it is harder to extract.
  2. Malabsorption of Fats and Fat-Soluble Vitamins:
    • Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) rely on bile for absorption.
  3. Detoxification is impaired because peristalsis is impaired which reduces our capacity to eliminate waste products.
    - Excretion of excess cholesterol is impaired leading to high cholesterol
  • Waste products can be absorbed and reactivated.
  • leads to fermentation in the digestive tract and constipation. -

Liver Damage:
- Bile that cannot flow properly can accumulate in the liver, leading to inflammation and liver damage.

Increased Risk of Gallstones:
- Poor bile flow may contribute to the formation of gallstones, as bile components like cholesterol may crystallize when they are not properly excreted.

  • Bilirubin, a component of bile, can build up in the bloodstream, leading to yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
  1. Gastrointestinal Discomfort:
    • Symptoms may include bloating, nausea, and abdominal pain, particularly after meals, due to poor fat digestion.
38
Q

What are the main functions of liver?

AIM for 4

A

Receives and filters blood
It receives all the nutrients and toxins from the GIT through the portal vein and filters and detoxifies 1.4 L of blood every minute

Storage
- carbohydrates in the form of glycogen
- fats
- minerals such as iron
- vitamins A, D, E , K and B12

Deactivates hormones

Creates
* Bile
* Plasma proteins like albumin

39
Q

What do we mean by Liver detoxification?

What sort of things does the liver detoxify?

A

Detoxification is when we transform toxin into a non-toxic substance and converted into something can now be excreted through the lungs, bowel, kidney, and skin

Toxins can be external such as pollution, metals, chemicals and pesticides, clean products and cosmetics, coffee and alcohol

Can also be internal when we are not digesting our food properly and get ferment or petrifaction and the production of polyamines

40
Q

What are the two phases of liver detoxification?

A

Phase 1 - modification

The liver uses CYP450 to chemically modify toxic substances to make these substances more reactive and thus easier to handle in the next phase. This creates free radicals.

Phase 2: Conjugation

In Phase 2, the liver adds various molecules to the substances from Phase 1 to make them more water-soluble. This process is called conjugation.

Common molecules added include glutathione. By making these substances water-soluble, the liver can more easily excrete them from the body through bile, urine, sweat or exhalation.

In summary, Phase 1 makes toxins more reactive, and Phase 2 makes them easier to remove from the body.

41
Q

What is glycogen?

A

We absorb sugars from carbohydrates and when they get to the liver it will take those sugars, join them together and store them as glycogen

42
Q

What happens in the large intestine?

A

By the time materials enter the larger intestine through the ileocacral valve most nutrients should have been digested and absorbed (if the digestive system is working well).

There are no digestive enzymes at this stage, but we have micro Flora to assist in the final stages of digestion and absorption.

Mucus produced by goblet cells lubricates the lining

43
Q

What are the four regions of the large intestine?

A
  1. Caecum - with the appendix attached.
  2. Colon - ascending, transverse and descending regions
  3. Rectum.
  4. Anal canal.
44
Q

Where do we find the appendix and what is it used for?

A

It is attached to the caecum

It is almost entirely formed of immune tissue and a key reservoir for beneficial gut bacteria

45
Q

What are the pH levels throughout the GIT?

A

Stomach: 1 to 3
Small intestine: 6 to 8 at the top end going down to between 5 and 7 at the bottom end
Large intestine: 5 to 7

46
Q

Where does most of the absorption take place and what is absorbed here?

A

Jejunum

Huge amount of absorption and a huge variety of absorption takes place here.

Minerals, vitamins, macro nutrients, sugars, amino acids and fatty acids

47
Q

What is Galt?

Where do we find it?

What does it secret?

A

What is Galt?
* Gut associated lymphoid tissue
* 70% of the immune system is based in this tissue - It houses leucocytes – macrophages and lymphocytes.
* It is the learning environment for Luekocytes to identify microbes because of proximity to bacterial surface antigens

Where do we find it?
* GALT is clustered in the tonsils, walls of the oesophagus, stomach and intestines. The appendix is also a location for GALT
* In the GIT wall it is found beneath the epithelium.

What does it secret?
* GALT secrets IgA which helps to deactivate antigens that are trying to cause havoc and aims to control and regulate the microbial species to prevent colonisation of pathogenic species in the GIT

48
Q

What is the key role of microflora in the large intestine?

A

The final stages of nutrient extraction through microbial fermentation

As we move along the digestive tract, we get more and more microflora. It is most abundant in the large intestine hosting 100 trillion microbes and over 1000 bacterial species.

49
Q

What are the waste byproducts of microbial fermentation in the large intestine?

A

Fermentation of carbohydrates creates the odorous waste product of methane and hydrogen

Fermentation of amino acids creates hydrogen sulphide
If we have faeces or wind with a strong odour, it indicates poor digestion as a result of the bacterial action on the remaining food

50
Q

What are the functions of the microflora in the large intestine apart from fermentation of carbohydrates and amino acids

Name up to 6

A
  1. Synthesises vitamins such as biotin and K2 (you shouldn’t need to ingest K2 at all if the microflora is healthy)
  2. Supports the intestinal barrier

Microflora chomp on fibre/cellulose and the output is short chain fatty acids which feed the epithelium making up the intestinal wall, helping them to tighten their grip and prevent leakage

  1. Outcompete/crowds out attachment to the intestinal epithelium and associated nutrients (for example outcompete Candida )
  2. Crucial for the effective functioning of the immune system
  3. Regulates appetite and satiety by producing appetite regulating proteins.
  4. Mood regulation.
51
Q

How do we protect against ingested toxins, pathogens and undigested food from getting into the blood.

What happens when this does not work?

A

The ability for anything to get into the blood depends on size.

When the mucosal membrane surface of the digestive tract is healthy and junctions are tight nothing larger than 500 Daltons will get through. This protects us from large protein not fully digested, toxins from bacteria, et cetera.

When this protective surface is compromised toxins, pathogens and under digested food get through which the body is not able to process.

It also leads to excessive immune responses potentially including allergies and all immunity

52
Q
A
53
Q

What can the intestinal barrier be damaged by?

8 examples

A

1.Poor nutrition
Hydrogenated and trans fats, refined sugars, gluten/refined wheat, processed foods / junk foods.

  1. Alcohol and smoking
  2. Dysbiosis and candida overgrowth
  3. Drugs
    • Corticosteroids weaken and thin the the digestive barrier
    • NSAIDs inhibit prostoglandins
    • Antibiotics
    • Vaccinations.
  4. Radiation and chemotherapy because intestinal epithelium is a fast replicating cell and therefore targeted.
  5. Heavy metalse.g., mercury, lead, aluminium), pesticides, herbicides and cleaning toxins etc.
  6. Excessive stress
  7. Early weaning (<6 months).
54
Q

What affects colonies of microflora negatively

A
  • Dietary composition can lead strains that become pathogenic.
  • Chronic stress
  • Diabetes.
  • Medications such as antibiotics and antacids.
  • Lack of digestive secretions, e.g., stomach acid.
55
Q

What is dysbiosis

A

An imbalance in the colonies of the bowel flora, leading to a disruption in health.

56
Q

What are 5 outcomes of dysbiosis on the body?

A
  • Malabsorption of carbohydrates and fats.
  • Vitamin, mineral, amino acid insufficiencies due to not absorbing these as well
  • Pathologies such as:
    • Inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g., Crohn’s).
    • Colorectal cancer.
    • Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
    • Autoimmunity, allergies and intolerances.
  • Obesity
  • Mood disorders.
57
Q

What are 5 effects of eating junk food?

A
  • Gut dysbiosis, leading to inflammation, reduced immune function and ‘leaky gut’.
  • ‘Spikes’ in blood glucose, resulting in excess insulin production, increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, obesity, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and acne.
  • Increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis).
  • Deficiencies in vital vitamins and minerals
  • Addictive eating behaviour, mood swings.
58
Q

Match the scientist with the approach

Louis Pasteur
Antoine Dechamp

Germ theory of disease
Terrain theory

Which one is associated with allopathic medecine and which with natural medicine?

A

Louis Pasteur - Germ theory of disease - Allopathic

Antoine Dechamp - Terrain theory - Natural

59
Q

What is the migrating motor complex? (MMC)

A

It is a pattern of electro mechanical activity in the smooth muscle between the stomach (the pyloric sphincter) and the end of the small intestine (distal ilium) during the periods between meals

  • It is like a housekeeping service that sweeps residual undigested material from the stomach to the distal point of the small intestine through peristaltic action.
  • Increases gastric, biliary and pancreatic secretions
60
Q

Why might impairment of the MMC be suggested with SIBO?

A

When impaired the MMC loses its ability to ensure that the iliosacral valve is only pushing in a forward direction.

An impairment in the electromechanical pattern can mean microbes of the large intestine can move back through the iliosacral valve and colonise in this small intestine

61
Q

How can we support the functioning of the MMC?

A
  • avoid overeating and minimise heavier proteins
  • leave gaps of at least four hours and ideally five between meals. Consider intermittent fasting.
  • Chew better
  • optimise sleep
  • Prokinetics to help with movement and drops of bitters to help stimulate gastric juices
  • stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system by using diagrammatic breathing exercises, yoga, Pilates
62
Q

What are the 2 key substances required for elimination?

What else helps.

A

Water and Fibre are key

This can be further optimised with Aloe, psyllium husk, magnesium citrate powder and flaxseed

63
Q

What Governs Digestion?

A

The enteric nervous system is the ‘brain of the gut’ and extends from the mouth to the anus.

The Enteric nervous system has more neurons that we have in the spinal chord.

64
Q

What are the key components of the enteric nervous system

A

2 nerve plexuses embedded in the wall of the digestive tract

Myenteric Plexus (M for motility)

So named because of what it does: muscle + intestines - therefore governs peristalsis. It gets everything moving. It is embedded within the layers of the digestive tube.

Submucosal Plexus(S for secretions)

So named because it sits under the mucosal layer within the digestive tract and controls the release of digestive secretion.

65
Q

What can overide the enteric nervous system

A

The enteric nervous system functions independently but it can be overidden.

A sympathetic response slows everything down decreasing digestive secretions and motility. So in a stressed state digestion is impaired and hence absorption is impaired. Elimination is also impaired.

On the other hand when the parasympathetic system kicks in the rest and digest state, digestive functions kick in.

66
Q

What is the function of the vegus nerve and what is it affected by?

A

The vagus nerve pretty much single handedly stimulates, governs and overrides the activity of digestion.

It runs from the head, through the thorax and diaphragm where it innervates the digestive organs connecting the brain and gut.

It stimulates both the myenteric and submucosal plexus and hence increases digestive motility and digestive secretions.

Vagus nerve activity is suppressed during periods of chronic stress and is enhanced with diaphragmatic breathing.

67
Q

What do we mean by the Gut-Brain axis?

A

The brain and gut develop from the same part of human embryonic tissue and therefore share many nerve endings and chemical transmitters.

They are also connected physically by the vagus nerve.

Nearly every chemical that controls the brain has been identified in the GIT.

68
Q

What is the role of seratonin in relation to the GIT

A

Over 95% of seratonin produced in the body is made in the GIT.

Serotonin plays a role in peristalsis, secretion and sensation.

Furthermore, due to its association with mood, this explains a possible link between poor gut health and depression.

Dysbiosis can also influence serotonin manufacture in the gut through affecting the availability of tryptophan and co-factors such as Zinc, magnesium, B vits, Vit C needed for its production.

As a consequence for example, antibiotic use which impacts on dysbiosis can affect mood negatively.

69
Q

List at least 4 key factors that compromise digestion

A
  1. Swallowing without chewing adequately.
  2. Eating junk food, refined sugars (slows peristalsis) and excessive protein, animal and soya.
  3. Drinking whilst eating.
  4. Over-eating and snacking.
  5. Drinking coffee / caffeinated beverages (also outcompetes nutrients for absorption).
  6. Chronic stress (increases sympathetic activity; blood diverted away from the digestive system).
  7. Nutritional deficiencies (e.g. Can’t manufacture stomach acid without zinc / B6).
70
Q

List 5 implications implications of poor digestion

A
  1. Less nutrient absorption and hence reduced nutrient delivery to tissues.
    For example, the absorption of calcium and magnesium are key for muscles including the myocardium (the heart).
  2. Fermentation of undigested food (leading to bloating and abdominal discomfort after eating).
  3. Putrefaction of protein and the production of polyamines implicated in colon cancer.
  4. Increased toxaemia (particularly key in Ayurvedic medicine — discussed later)
  5. The retention of undigested materials and waste in the intestinal mucosal secretions (Jensen’s findings).
71
Q

How does B12 work its way from our food to absorption

A
  • B12 is bound to a protein in the food&raquo_space;>
  • It goes into the stomach where the stomach acid and pepsin split them apart&raquo_space;>
  • R protein coming down from the salivary glands now binds to the B12&raquo_space;>
  • B12-R leaves the stomach into the duodenum where pancreatic proteases come in&raquo_space;>
  • they split the B12-R into B12 and R &raquo_space;>
  • intrinsic factor produced by the stomach comes in and binds to B12 &raquo_space;>
  • B12 is aborbed in the terminal Ilium
72
Q

What can impede the absorption of B12?

A
  1. Poor gastric acid levels will mean B12 does not seperate from the protein it is bound to in the blood and can’t then connect to R proteins
  2. Poor salivary gland function will prevent the R protien from being swallowed from the mouth into the stomach to protect B12 from acid
  3. intrinsic factor produced by the stomach comes in and binds to B12 &raquo_space;>
  4. Poor pancreatic function will mean poor release of pancreatic protesases to split B12-R
  5. Poor functioning of the terminal ilium will mean poor absorption.
73
Q

How does Vitamin D get made in the body

A

In response to the sun in the skin provitamin D is transformed into Cholecalciferol (aka aD3) and released into the blood
»>
It is transported to the liver and then to the kidneys from
which Calcitriol (active for of Vit D) is released.

Drugs, alcohol, coffee, refined sugars etc compete for liver resources and impact on Vit D synthesis

74
Q

Why is Vitamin D so important?

4 reasons

A
  • Vitamin D3 draws calcium and phosphorous out of the digestive tract and pulls it into the blood. It increases intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
  • It maintains calcium balance in the body in conjunction with vitamin K2 which controls utilisation of calcium (depositing it in bones).
  • Vitamin D helps regulate bacterial species in the intestines. A deficiency of vitamin D is linked to an imbalance of the intestinal flora, whilst also increasing the likelihood of inflammatory bowel diseases.
  • Vitamin D regulates and refines immune response. A lot of people with autoimmune conditions are Vit D deficient. Allergies, inflammatory bowel diseases etc.
75
Q

What impedes absorption of calcium from the digestive tract into the blood?

A
  • Damaged Ileum as 70-80% of ingested calcium is absorbed in the more distal regions of the small intestine
  • lack of Dietary vitamin D
  • lack of UVB exposure
  • lack of VitvD in food
  • lack of fat good intake of healthy fats which is needed to absorb Vitamin D
76
Q

How do D3 and K2 work together for calcium balance?

A
  • D3 gets it from gut to blood.
    K2 gets it from blood to bones to get the deposition of calcium in the bones.
77
Q

A healthy, functioning digestive system is crucial for delivering the required nutrients to all cells in the body.

What are two examples of digestive system actions that support health?

A
  • Anti-oxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and quercetin are absorbed from foods and protect cells against free radicals / oxidative damage. The liver in particular has a large number of free radicals after phase 1 detoxification that need antioxidant support.
  • A body that is poorly detoxifying and eliminating wastes can increase the toxic burden on cells, disrupting cellular functions. For example, DNA can be damaged, resulting in mutations.
78
Q

Why is digestive health crucial for bone health.

A
  1. The small intestine is responsible for the absorption of key minerals in bones such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium and the absorption of amino acids required to build collagen in bones
  2. The intestinal microflora produces vitamin K2, which causes calcium deposition in bones. So dysbiosis can result in osteoporosis.
  3. Calcitriol’ (active form of Vit D3) absorbs calcium from food.

Weight bearing exercises also increase mineral and collagen production

79
Q

What is the impact of poor digestive health on muscle health?

A

Poor digestive health results in poor delivery of nutrients, leading to muscle weakness / aching, cramping, fatigue and pain.

Iron to help deliver oxygen to muscle

Magnesium for muscle relaxation.

Calcium for muscle contraction.

Amino acids for muscle growth and maintenance.

Sodium and potassium for nerve stimulation of muscles.

It goes both ways as muscle health is also crucial in supporting digestive health. Diaphragmatic movements provide a visceral massage on the abdominal digestive organs and stimulate the release of serotonin, promoting digestion and hence nutrient absorption.

80
Q

How is cardiovascular health impacted by the digestive system?

A
  • The presence of stomach acid and vitamin C aids absorption of iron into the blood
  • The heart must be nourished with an abundance of minerals (including calcium, magnesium and potassium), as well as oxygen, in order to function optimally.
  • The blood must maintain a strict range of pH between 7.35 and 7.45 to keep the body alive. This is challenged by excess acidity, toxins, poor nutrition (refined sugars), chronic stress and limited movement / exercise.
81
Q

Good digestive health is crucial to provide endocrine glands with the nutrients needed to produce hormones.

Give 2 examples

A
  1. Thyroid hormones require nutrients such as iodine, tyrosine, selenium and zinc.
  2. Melatonin is formed from the neurotransmitter serotonin.
    - 95% of serotonin is found in the digestive system.
    - To get from serotonin to melatonin B6 is crucial.
82
Q

Which hormones are released from the GIT epithelial cells and what do they do?

A

CCK
* Stimulate pancreatic juice and bile flow
* Stimulate satiety

Gastrin
* Stimulate gastric activity

Ghrelin
* Stimulate hunger

Insulin
* Released in response to the ingestion of carbohydrates to prepare for the absorption and storage of sugars.

83
Q
A

Nutrition 1 (11 decks)

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