CNN - Digestion and Bowel Flora

Question 1

What is the purpose of the digestive system?

Answer 1

Take in food, break it down, assimilate the nutrients and eliminate the waste.

Question 2

Name the principle chambers that make up the digestive tract?

Answer 2

Mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus

Question 3

Name 2 other organs that play an important role in digestion?

Answer 3

Liver and pancreas

Question 4

Why does the stomach have an acid PH?

Answer 4

To kill pathogens and break down proteins.

Question 5

Which part of the digestive system is concerned with the digestion of carbohydrates?

Answer 5

Mouth (chewing), small intestines (digestion)

Question 6

Which part of the digestive system is concerned with the digestion of proteins?

Answer 6

Mouth (chewing), stomach (breakdown), small intestines (digestion)

Question 7

Which part of the digestive system is concerned with the digestion of fats?

Answer 7

Mouth (chewing), small intestines (digestion)

Question 8

Which part of the digestive system is concerned with the elimination of wastes?

Answer 8

Large intestine/colon

Question 9

Name 3 things that take place within the large intestine/Colon?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Why is it important to chew our food?

Answer 10

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!

Question 11

Name the small food molecules that are derived from (a) carbohydrates, (b) fats and (C) proteins?

Answer 11

(a) glucose
(b) fatty acids
(c) amino acids

Question 12

Where in the digestive system are small food molecules, vitamins and minerals absorbed?

Answer 12

Towards the end of the small intestine

Question 13

Putting personal ethics aside, why is it important to eat foods from both animal and plant sources?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Give 3 examples of problems that occur within the digestive system as a result of poorly chewed food?

Answer 14

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!

Question 15

Give 3 examples of health factors which can contribute to low stomach acid?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is the impact of poor absorption on our health?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

List three common problems that can occur within the large intestine/Colon?

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

Why is sugar detrimental to our health?

Answer 18

Sugar feeds non-beneficial bacteria and yeasts in the digestive tract.

Question 19

How does digestive health link to the health of the mind?

Answer 19

1. 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.
2. 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.

Question 20

How does digestive health link of the health of the immune system?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What is bowel transit time? What is the significance of this?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

List 3 things that can be used to speed up bowel transit time.

Answer 22

Consume linseeds.
Avoid or minimise gluten
Drink plenty of fresh water.

Question 23

Why is it important to minimise the strain on the digestive organs?

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

List 5 things that can be done to achieve this?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What factors cause the gut lining to become inflamed?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Name 3 things that can be used to address this?

Answer 26

Anti-inflammatory foods e.g. inner leaf aloe vera, linseeds and glutamine.
Address potential food intolerances

Question 27

Why are beneficial bacteria important to our health?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

List 4 things that can be done to boost the beneficial gut flora?

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Name 4 strategies that you can use to eliminate un-wanted yeast?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Why is a multi-pronged approach important for the elimination of yeast?

Answer 30

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.