Digestion; Digestive health and The Body Tissues:

Question 1

Bone health

Answer 1

Bones contain collagen and key minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium.
* The small intestine is responsible for the absorption of these minerals and the amino acids required to build collagen
* The intestinal microflora produces vitamin K2, which causes calcium deposition is in bones. So dysbiosis can result in osteoporosis
* ‘calcitriol’ absorbs calcium from food
* Therefore, digestive health is crucial for bone health
* Mechanical stress leads to increased mineral and collagen production (weight-bearing exercises)

Question 2

Cellular health

Answer 2

A healthy, functioning digestive system is crucial for delivering the required nutrients to all cells in the body.
* Anti-oxidants, including beta-carotene, vitamins C, vitamin E and quercetin are absorbed from from foods. They protect cells against free radicals/oxidative damage.
* A good absorption and delivery of anti-oxidants is important to organs such as the liver, which neutralize a large number of free radicals formed through the process detoxification
* 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

Question 3

Muscle health

Answer 3

• Muscles require nutrients from food to support the activity:
  o Calcium; For muscle contraction
  o Magnesium; for muscle relaxation
  o Iron; to help deliver oxygen to muscle
  o Sodium and potassium; for nerve stimulation of muscles
  o Amino acid; for muscle growth and maintenance
• Poor digestive health results in poor delivery of these nutrients, leading to muscle weakness/aching, cramping, fatigue and pain
• Muscle health is also crucial in supporting digestive health. Diaphragmatic movements provide visceral massage on the abdominal digestive organs and stimulate the release of serotonin, promoting digestion and hence nutrient absorption
  Hyper = increase, -trophy = growth in size

Question 4

Cardiovascular health

Answer 4

Almost all oxygen is transported in the blood bound to haemoglobin (Hb) in red blood cells.
* Due to chemical similarities with haemoglobin, chlorophyll rich-foods (green leafy vegetables, chlorella, is spirulina, etc) can be used as ‘blood–builders’ as they nourish the blood
* Good digestive health is crucial to support the effective absorption of iron. Stomach acid is particularly important for this process, whilst the presence of vitamin C also aids absorption in the small intestine into the blood
* Oxygen transport (using the key mineral ‘Iron’), is crucial for cells to produce energy aerobically
Heam = blood, globus = a spherical protein

Question 5

Endocrine health

Answer 5

The digestive and endocrine system interact closely.
* Hormones released from GIT epithelial cells can:
o Stimulate pancreatic juice and bile flow – CCK (cholecystokinin)
o Stimulates gastric activity – gastrin
o Stimulate satiety (sense of fullness) – CCK
o Stimulate hunger – ghrelin (from the stomach)
* The hormone ‘insulin’ it Is also released in response to the ingestion of carbohydrates. This is to prepare for the absorption and storage of sugars
* Good digestive health is crucial to provide endocrine glands with the nutrients needed to produce hormones. E.g:
o Thyroid hormones require nutrients such as iodine, tyrosine, selenium and zinc.
o Melatonin (formed from serotonin) is found mostly in the digestive system, therefore poor digestive health affects levels of melatonin, which affect sleep. Melatonin needs the same cofactors as tryptophan and serotonin; magnesium, zinc, vitamins C, vitamin B6.

Question 6

Nervous system health

Answer 6

The electrical activity relies on the presence of sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Chlorides (Cl-) and calcium (Ca2+) ions, which must therefore, be ingested and absorbed.
* Calcitriol (vitamin D) is important for Ca2 absorption.
* The digestive system is responsible for absorbing substances required to manufacture neurotransmitters. E.g. dopamine requires tyrosine, iron, B1, B3 and B6.
* Vitamin B12 is also crucial in the nervous system, where it myelinates neurons, increasing their speed of conduction.
* Poor digestive health results in less mineral and B12 absorption, impairing nerve activity and potentially resulting in symptoms such as in tingling, numbness, loss of balance and pain
* B12 also creates erythrocytes (RBCs), so a lack of B12 absorption creates fatigue, lethargy, anaemia etc.