GI Health: You Can’t UseGI Health: You Can’t UseWhat You Don’t AbsorbWhat You Don’t Absorb

ByMark Burger, Pharm.D.

Health First! Pharmacy & Compounding Center

Form and Function Mouth: Chewing, Saliva, Amylase (starch

digestion only …no fats, no proteins) Esophagus: Transfer only (10 inch tube) Stomach: Digest (HCl acid + enzyme pepsin)

proteins, make minerals available & Churn + Chyme (as food leaves)

Small Intestine: Bile, Pancreatic Enzymes Large Intestine: Absorb water, Minerals, re-absorb bile for re-cycling.

Esophagus, Stomach, Diaphram & Liver

Cardiac

Fundus

Pylorus

Small Intestines & Large Intestines

WhereGallstonesget stuck

Liver Function: A primer only(the liver does a LOT of stuff)

From the small intestine, digested products travel to the liver, one of the body's most versatile organs.

Hepatocytes (liver cells) detoxify (filter) blood of harmful substances such as alcohol, drugs, hormones, ammonia.

Hepatocytes store fat-soluble vitamins and excess substances such as glucose (sugar) for release when the body requires extra energy. [we’ll have an entire talk on the liver at another time] mb

Large Intestines, Part I of II(see the Appendix on Cecum)

AppendixAppendix

Large Intestines, Part II of II

The large pouch-shaped cecum marks the beginning of the colon. Attached near the cecum bottom is the vermiform (worm-like)

appendix. The appendix contains lymphoid tissue and intercepts pathogenic microorganisms that enter the digestive tract. Sometimes, fecal matter may become trapped in the appendix, resulting in appendicitis (infection and inflammation).

The other parts of the colon absorb water and minerals from the undigested food and compact the remaining material into feces. Good bacteria make vitamins and immunity (80% of your immunity !!)

Defecation is the digestive process final stage: feces (undigested waste products) are carried to the rectum through peristalsis (boa constrictor-like) and eliminated through the anus.

Elimination (poop, feces, scat, waste, and other words)

How often should you “go”? Clue: How often do you eat?

What’s it supposed to look like? A: Toothpaste consistency? Well Formed? Brown/Green/Pale? “Floaters”, “Sinkers” and/or “Stinkers”?

Common Problems(start at the top): Phase I

Undigested food Not enough chewing Not enough time & stress Wrong environment (car, over-the-sink,

etc.) Not enough acid or pepsin [stomach] Not enough bile or enzymes [pancreas,

gall bladder]

Common Problems(start at the top)

Reflux, GERD, Heartburn, Esophagitis Small % caused by too much acid Larger % (in people over 50 especially)

due to not ENOUGH acid (hypochlorhydria and gastric atrophy)

Overweight (pressure), Poor diet, Stress Overuse of antacids, Tagamet, Zantac,

PPIs [e.g. Pepcid, Protonix, Aciphex, Nexium, Prilosec, etc., etc., etc.]

Why Stomach Acid is Good For You: Natural Relief from Heartburn, Indigestion, Reflux

and GERD by Dr. Jonathon Wright, MD [book]

The stomach is normally VERY acidic Normal pH 1-3 (7.0 is neutral). Like the

Richter Scale, logarithmic (powers of 10) This is good: Pepsin only works at pH 2.0

Bacteria can’t live in this acidic environ. Minerals are prepared for absorption B-vitamins only absorbed in acid environ LES stays closed, Pyloric valve opens

Natural Remedies(when there is NO ULCER)

Acidify with OACV 1-2 T in shot glass w/meal (right in the middle or at end) [portability issue]

Acidify with Betaine HCl caps (hydrochloride) Give some Pepsin with HCl Lose some weight Some products: B.P.P. by Thorne, Betaine HCl

caps, Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (OACV), Metagest by Metagenics

Most good enzyme products have it e.g. ZymeMax, SuperZymes, DuoZyme.

Natural Remedies(when there IS an ULCER)

Check with your doctor first! DGL (licorice that doesn’t increase BP) Zinc Carnosine (Zinlori/Metagenics) Aloe Vera + DGL + L-Glutamine [gut fuel]

(GES-5) Slippery Elm (protects), Alginic Acid (foams!) Mastic Gum kills H. Pylori parasite Plain old Zinc (chelate or picolinate) Consider PPIs for the short-haul only

Natural Remedies(when there IS an ULCER II)

Digestive enzymes w/o Betaine HCl DigestZyme by OrthoMolecular Products Ultra Veggie Enzymes by Health First

Digestive enzymes for no Gall Bladder Bile Acid Factors by Jarrow Formulas Digestion GB by Pure Encapsulations

(these have extra fat enzyme – lipase)

The Second Phase: Small Intestine, Bile,

Pancreas If the stomach does a poor job, then… We have less “juices” as we age Gall stones can be problematic Liver can be overloaded (poor diet,

environment, alcohol, hepatitis, drugs, hormones, fatty liver disease from too many carbs)

This is where most absorption happens

Natural Help for Small Intestines

Full-spectrum enzymes with ox bile (fat breakdown), lipase (more fat breakdown/absorption), pancreatin 6X, protease (protein break-down), amylase (starch digestion), glutamic acid (gut repair), cellulase (cellulose breakdown), lactase (milk), maltase (malt), peptidase (peptides), etc.

DuoZyme by Karuna ZymeMax by Advanced Naturals SpectraZyme by Metagenics

The Third Phase: Large Intestine Symptoms

Diarrhea or Constipation and/or gas Inflammation (IBS, Crohn’s, Diverticulitis,

Ulcerative Colitis, Infectious (bacterial or viral), Pseudomembranous colitis (overgrowth of C. dificile or C. albicans)

Proctitis/Sigmoiditis/Colitis – it is = to inflammation of …(the parts of the colon)

Dysbiosis or Leaky Bowel (only 1 cell thick) Allergies/Auto-Immunity (You attacking You!)

Causes of Large Bowel Problems

Antibiotic use (C. dificile or C. albicans) Undigested food (feeding the Yeast-Beast) Poor diet (too many carbs = C. albicans) Overall inflammation = leaky bowel Stress Imbalance of microflora (good vs bad

bacteria, yeast, fungus, viruses, parasites)

Natural Remedies for Large Bowel Symptoms

Fiber (24-35 Grams/day) – a prebiotic too! Omega-3 Fatty Acids (fish oil) 3 Gm/day Enzymes (full spectrum or B.P.P.-type) PreBiotics (inulin & FOS) and Probiotics

Prebiotics are the “fertilizer” for probiotics Probiotics are bacteria that produce soothing acids that

“push back” on the yeast (C. albicans) & bad bacteria e.g. E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.

The H.O.P.E.H.O.P.E. Formula by Brenda Watson,NDHHigh fiber OOmega-3s, PProbiotics, EEnzymes

In Summary … CHECK WITH YOUR PRACTITIONER FIRST! Manage diet (hi fiber, lo sugar, mod. alcohol, hi fish

oils) Manage stress (good sleep, exercise, relaxation) Lose weight if necessary Supplement for maintenance (enzymes, probiotics) Supplement for therapeutic results if symptomatic Avoid antibiotic & PPI use unless absolutely

necessary Consult with pharmacist for customized care Eat organic, fresh, clean food that actually contain

good bacteria, enzymes, fiber, spices, etc.