In the first blog on Digestion, we learned the importance of chewing our food – even the liquid shakes & smoothies as digestion begins in the mouth (actually it begins before that first bite enters your mouth – the saliva glands start working at the first scent or thought of food).
So what happens now that the food has been broken down by the teeth & saliva? If all goes according to plan, this food (now considered bolus with the added saliva) will travel passed the epiglottis (helps divert food from going down our windpipe) & into the esophagus toward the stomach. It will take approximately six minutes to make the journey.
It’s right about here that some people already have issues with their digestive system – heartburn, acid reflux, GERD and hiatus [hiatal] hernia. The “doorway” between the esophagus and stomach is the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is a one-way passage that keeps the stomach acid from coming back up.
Unfortunately, the consumption of too much coffee, chocolate, alcohol, and most particularly sugar and processed food, weakens the LES. Most people think that when they experience acid reflux, there is too much acid in the stomach and in truth, there is too little hydrochloric acid (HCL)(Dx = hypochlorhydria).
An easy way to remedy this is with lemon water and/or fermented unfiltered raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) in water. Personally I like to combine six ounces of water with a tablespoon of ACV and the juice of one lemon. Alternatives include adding 1/8 tsp Cheyenne pepper (reduces bloating) and local raw honey to give it a little boost of sweetness [also probiotics]; as I have to warn you, it is an acquired taste. The benefits of this combination are too many to list in this blog – I highly recommend doing your own research.
So now that our “bolus” has made it to the stomach, the HCL combined with enzymes help break it down even further, into what is now called “chyme". By the way, our carbohydrates start breaking down in the mouth, and proteins are broken down in the stomach by the enzyme pepsin. On average, 50% of the stomach contents are emptied 2½-3 hours after eating, and completed within 4-5 hours.
Common digestive issues that occur in the stomach are:
Gastritis – inflammation of the stomach lining
Gastro Paresis – inability to perform muscle contractions (peristalsis) whereby the stomach doesn’t completely empty, causing nausea and vomiting
Gastritis can be caused by many factors, including
Infection
Stress
Diet
Pain medications
Eating disorders
Alcoholism
Healing herbs for gastritis include:
Fresh ginger
Peppermint
Chamomile
Fennel
Oregano
Turmeric
Foods to Avoid with Gastritis
Coffee
Chocolate
Alcohol
Fried foods
Sugar
Artificial sweeteners
Processed foods
High fat dairy products
Good Foods for Gastritis
Milk Kefir
Fruits
Vegetables
Fresh juices
Whole grains
Lean meats
Coconut oil
Honey
Blackstrap molasses
Apple Cider Vinegar
Gastro Paresis remedies
Eat several small meals
Wait 2 to 3 hours before lying down
Meals low in fiber and fat
Relax before eating, and eat slowly
Eat well-cooked fruits & vegetables rather than raw
Soft and liquid foods – these are easier to digest
Good Foods for Gastro paresis
Pineapple
Apple Cider Vinegar
Aloe Vera
Cranberry
Ginger
Papaya
Bone broth
Our Digestive Journey continues as we travel through the small and large intestines, and ultimately leaving the body as poop.
Until then,
To Your Health & Happiness,
Michele Root ~ Empowering You!
Image: Gastritis