Roz Burnham,C.N.

Metabolic Clinical Nutrition

Natural Wellness Counseling

972-939-8447

web: mysite.verizon.net/rozburnham

Digestion

Good digestion requires adequate and balanced energy!

Digestion begins in the mouth when food is mixed with salivary enzymes which initiate the first stage of digestion. Chewing prepares food to be received by the stomach in a partially broken down state.

The stomach secretes acids which begin to break down protein foods. Carbohydrates and fats are not digested by the stomach. In a mixed meal of protein, fat and carbohydrate, only the protein foods are treated by the stomach. This is why you should eat your protein foods first, as they require the most energy to digest. This is another reason why you should not mix fruit and protein foods in a meal.

The amount of acid present in the stomach depends upon many factors such as your level of stress and the types of beverages and food you consume. For example: coffee, soft drinks, milk, alcohol, smoking, tomato products, citrus, meats and protein foods stimulate stomach acid production.

Food may stay in the stomach for hours or may move through the stomach very rapidly. Stress is the greatest factor in how fast the stomach empties. If you are hungry shortly after eating, your emptying time is too fast.

Food moves into the beginning of the small intestine where fats and carbs are digested and assimilation of nutrients begins. Alkaline enzymes made by the pancreas are secreted to digest food here. A lack of enzymes may slow or stop the digestive process here. This results in bloating and gas, pain and elimination problems.

Food then moves through the small intestine and empties into the large intestine where waste product elimination occurs. Slow digestion will produce constipation while fast digestion will create loose stools.

The nervous system also controls the rate of elimination by fast or slow stimulation of the nerves of the intestines.

Stress can slow down or speed up the whole digestive process from beginning to end!