Alternative Health Blog

Digestion is the complex process by which our food is converted into energy. It actually begins when we see and smell food and continues as we chew, mixing the food with saliva to begin the breakdown of carbohydrates. Acid is secreted in the stomach and contents are churned into a semi-liquid that passes into the small intestine. Secretions from the liver, pancreas, and gall bladder reduce some compounds to molecules that pass through the wall of the small intestine into the bloodstream. The remaining compounds pass to the large intestine, which removes water and compacts the waste into stools that are excreted about 24 to 36 hours after eating. The kidneys also remove water and wastes from the blood stream and excrete them as urine. In the liver, nutrients are extracted and stored for future use; any excess is converted to fat.

Now that I've given you the basic digestion 101 lesson, it should be apparent that we need many nutrients to keep the digestive system in good working order, and a basic balanced diet is the place to start. If you're not eating the right foods and getting the right combination of nutrients, which most of us aren't, then you need to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals so the body can accomplish its digestive tasks. If you are experiencing any sustained abdominal pain, you must get medical attention immediately. Did you realize that nationwide, ten percent of heart-disease patients first come to the doctor complaining of abdominal pain, unaware they have heart trouble? Don't take a chance with abdominal pain! Even though it can't kill you, it can be an indicator of trouble elsewhere in your body that could be fatal.

The most common question I'm asked is "What can relieve chronic sour stomach, other than antacids?" For many years we believed that gastrointestinal problems, stomach problems, or sour stomach were caused by too much acid. so we treated these complaints by blocking acid with both prescription and over-the-counter antacids. Now we have new medications that completely shut off acid production. The problem is that acid is important. We can't digest our food without it. So this strategy may create more problems than it solves. Treatment that builds the stomach's mucosal lining provides relief without compounding the patient's difficulties. Good probiotics does this.

Years ago everybody believed that stress caused ulcers, but that idea has now been questioned. Ninety percent of duodenal ulcers are caused by a bacteria, not stress. That bacteria is called Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, and a blood test can identify this infection. If you have it, antibiotics will eliminate it. Such medications destroy the bad bacteria like H. pylori, but they also destroy the good bacteria. To restore balance to the intestinal tract, take probiotics available from your local health store.