DIGESTIONAbsorption of

Nutrients

By Dr. Eric Berg DC

Stomach

Function of Stomach

• Breakdown proteins, collagen• Absorb minerals, B12• Releases a powerful protein enzyme (pepsin)• The stomach is extremely acid!

pH between 1-3

• Valve on the top of the stomach can close• Full digestion of protein into amino acids• Breakdown of collagen• Release of bile• Release of pancreatic enzymes• Full absorption of minerals (calcium, iron, etc.)• Kill all potential microbes in food

Myth

•Acid reflux, indigestion, heartburn and GERD is a problem of too much acid.

Truth• Acid Reflux is an acid

deficiency.The value closes when the pH of the stomach is between 1-3.

Stomach Symptoms

• Acid Reflux – too little acid• Ulcer – chronic irritation• GERD – too little acid• Gas – too little acidROOT CAUSES:• NaCl (salt) is the main nutrient that helps build

up the stomach acids. • Aging• Anti-acids

Protein Digestion

• Pepsin in the main enzyme to digest protein and only works if the pH is below 3. This enzyme becomes inactive as the pH is above 3.

• Pepsin is capable of digesting all protein. One vital feature of pepsin is in its ability to digest collagen. Lacking this enzyme can result is a loss of connective tissue.

Low Stomach Acids

• Look at the symptoms of Achlorhydria• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achlorhydria

Low Stomach Acids (Achlorhydria & H-Pylori)

H. pylori Thrives in Low Stomach AcidWhile H. pylori can avoid being wiped out by gastric acid, low levels of gastric acid make it quite easy for the bacteria to enter and infect the stomach. Even if your levels of stomach acid are only temporarily low, the bacteria can enter and establish itself, then migrate below the mucus layer of the stomach to protect itself from rising stomach acid.

Solutions

• Betaine Hydrochloride + Pepsin• Sea salt• Avoid taking calcium with meals

Gallbladder

Symptoms• Bloating, burping, belching• The need for sweets after a meal• Constipation• Right shoulder pain, headaches• Low thyroid function• High cholesterol• Gallstones• Floating stool• Itching

GALLBLADDER SYMPTOMS

Bile

• A fluid that helps break down fats and extract nutrients from fat.

• Extracts healthy fats – essential fatty acids• Extracts fat soluble vitamins

Fat soluble vitamin deficiencies

A: poor night vision, dry skin, acne, sinusD: bone pain, loss of bone, depression, asthma

and calcium metabolism issues.E: muscle cramps (including heart), sex

hormones, oxygen saturation.K1: normal clogging and repairK2: calcium control and elastic arteries

Low Vitamin A

Low Vitamin D

Low Vitamin E

Low Vitamin K2 (vitamink2.org)

Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring (CAC)

• http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HeartDisease/calcium-scores-best-predictor-heart-attack/story?id=14334633

• http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/movies/review-the-widowmaker-a-heart-care-documentary.html

• Researchers looked at 950 patients with no symptoms of heart disease and found that patients with the presence of calcium -– even those with low cholesterol levels -- had twice the risk for heart attack or stroke and four times the risk for heart disease than those with a calcium score of zero.

Calcium Supplementation

• Results After an average follow-up time of 11 years, 354 MI and 260 stroke cases and 267 CVD deaths were documented. Compared with the lowest quartile, the third quartile of total dietary and dairy calcium intake had a significantly reduced MI risk, with a HR of 0.69 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.94) and 0.68 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.93), respectively. Associations for stroke risk and CVD mortality were overall null. In comparison with non-users of any supplements, users of calcium supplements had a statistically significantly increased MI risk (HR=1.86; 95% CI 1.17 to 2.96), which was more pronounced for calcium supplement only users (HR=2.39; 95% CI 1.12 to 5.12).

• http://heart.bmj.com/content/98/12/920.full

Where do we get K2?

Soft Tissue Calcium

Gallbladder Causes

• High estrogen• High cortisol• Low amounts of vegetables• Low fat diets• Rancid nuts, fats or un-germinated nuts

Solutions

Purified bile salts

Pancreas

Function

• Creates most of your enzymes!

– ENZYMES: proteins that transform food into your body and break down the body into waste.

• Works with bile to completely break down fats.

• Regulates hormones to balance sugars

Symptoms

• Steatorrhea (oily sticky stool that sticks to the toilet)

• Undigested food, which causes constipation and sluggish blowels.

• Stomach pain, bloating, irritation and gas.• Similar symptoms to stomach and gallbladder

Solution

• Raw foods• Avoid sugar• Avoid roasted nuts• Pancreatin (pancreatic enzymes)

Colon

Function

• 90% of all digestion occurs in the small intestines with the help of 100 trillion microbes. These microbes make vitamins, enzymes, digest food, protect you.

• Microbes are mini recyclers

SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)

• Abdominal fullness or bloating• Constipation• Bad breath• Abdominal pain and cramps• Diarrhea (usually watery)• Gassiness

Solution

• Probiotics (soil based)• Yogurt is too weak, but kefir is better• Eat fermented foods

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