Did you know digestion begins in the senses?
Sight, smell, and even the thought of food signal your body to start producing saliva and digestive enzymes.
Sight, smell, and even the thought of food signal your body to start producing saliva and digestive enzymes.
Remember being told to chew your food? Chewing is critical!
Proper chewing breaks food down mechanically, mixes it with saliva, and makes nutrients more accessible further down the tract.
Proper chewing breaks food down mechanically, mixes it with saliva, and makes nutrients more accessible further down the tract.
Food moves through the esophagus
The chewed food (bolus) travels downward. If the esophagus is inflamed, reflux and irritation can occur, creating the first barrier issues
The chewed food (bolus) travels downward. If the esophagus is inflamed, reflux and irritation can occur, creating the first barrier issues
What affects stomach acid?
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Drinking too many fluids with meals
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Carbonated or alcoholic drinks
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Chronic stress (sympathetic nervous system dominance)
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Bacterial overgrowth, especially H. pylori
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Hydrochloric acid is essential for breaking down food and activating enzymes like pepsin to digest protein.
The pancreas’ role
Stomach acid signals the pancreas to release enzymes—protease, lipase, and amylase—for proteins, fats, and carbs, as well as bicarbonate to neutralize acid as food enters the small intestine.
Stomach acid signals the pancreas to release enzymes—protease, lipase, and amylase—for proteins, fats, and carbs, as well as bicarbonate to neutralize acid as food enters the small intestine.
When things go wrong
Without enough stomach acid or bicarbonate, acidic, partially digested food enters the small intestine. This causes irritation and weakens the intestinal lining, causing tiny tears (“leaky gut”). Also known as intestinal permeability.
Without enough stomach acid or bicarbonate, acidic, partially digested food enters the small intestine. This causes irritation and weakens the intestinal lining, causing tiny tears (“leaky gut”). Also known as intestinal permeability.
The immune reaction
Undigested food particles leak into the bloodstream, triggering immune responses and systemic inflammation. Over time, this drains immune resilience and exposes genetic weaknesses, leaving you more prone to illness.
Undigested food particles leak into the bloodstream, triggering immune responses and systemic inflammation. Over time, this drains immune resilience and exposes genetic weaknesses, leaving you more prone to illness.
Why you’re here
If you’re experiencing bloating, fatigue, food sensitivities, or chronic health struggles, these may be signs of leaky gut. Maybe you're overweight? You've been told you need to reduce your cholesterol. You want to get off your medications. You've been told you have a leaky gut.
If you’re experiencing bloating, fatigue, food sensitivities, or chronic health struggles, these may be signs of leaky gut. Maybe you're overweight? You've been told you need to reduce your cholesterol. You want to get off your medications. You've been told you have a leaky gut.
The good news is, with the right steps, the gut can heal and resilience can be restored.