how your digestive system works

How long does it take to digest food — from the time you eat it to the time you excrete it? 
The digestion process takes between 24 and 72 hours, Elimination of undigested residue food  usually begins after 24 hours. Complete elimination from the body may take several days. 

Answers from Michael F. Picco, M.D.
Digestion time varies between individuals and between men and women. After you eat, it takes about six to eight hours for food to pass through your stomach and small intestine. Food then enters your large intestine (colon) for further digestion, absorption of water and, finally, elimination of undigested food.

In the 1980s, Mayo Clinic researchers measured digestion time in 21 healthy people. Total transit time, from eating to elimination in stool, averaged 53 hours (although that figure is a little overstated, because the markers used by the researchers passed more slowly through the stomach than actual food). The average transit time through just the large intestine (colon) was 40 hours, with significant difference between men and women: 33 hours for men, 47 hours for women.

Two British doctors studied digestion time in children. They fed 35 children juice containing a red marker and asked the children's mothers to note when the stool first turned red. The mean time of transit from mouth to anus for the group was 33 hours (meaning half the children had digestion times slower than this and half had digestion times greater than this).

With Regards,
Michael F. Picco, M.D.




Your digestive system gears up
A fresh-baked apple pie has just come out of the oven. Just the sight and smell of it are enough to make you start salivating. So even before you take a bite, your digestive system has swung into action.

After the first morsel enters your mouth, the many organs of your digestive tract kick into high gear. Here's a look at how your digestive system works, from top to bottom.



Mouth and salivary glands
After you take your first bite of pie, your salivary glands produce saliva — a mixture of secretions that help lubricate and break down food. Besides the salivary glands in the lining of your mouth, you have three pairs of larger salivary glands — the parotid, sublingual and submandibular glands. You typically produce about 2 pints (about 1 liter) of saliva a day.

Not all of the work is chemical, though. As you savor the bite of pie, your teeth work to break down the pie while your tongue mixes it with saliva. This action transforms it into a soft, moist, rounded mass (bolus) suitable for swallowing.



Esophagus
As you swallow the bite of pie, muscles in your mouth and throat propel it to your upper esophagus, the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Muscles in the wall of your esophagus create synchronized waves — one after another — that propel the pie into your stomach. In this process, called peristalsis, muscles behind the bolus of pie contract, squeezing it forward, while muscles ahead of it relax, allowing it to advance without resistance.

When the bolus reaches the lower end of your esophagus, pressure from the food signals a muscular valve — the lower esophageal sphincter — to relax and let the food enter your stomach.



Stomach
After entering your stomach, the pie is broken down further. With its powerful muscles, the stomach begins churning and mixing the food into smaller and smaller pieces. Your digestive glands in your stomach lining produce stomach acid and enzymes, which mix with the food to form a murky semifluid or paste called chyme.

Once the chyme is well-mixed, waves of muscle contractions propel it through a valve called the pylorus and into the first section of your small intestine (duodenum). The pylorus might release about an eighth of an ounce (about 4 milliliters) of chyme at a time. The rest is held back for more mixing.



Pancreas, liver and gallbladder
In your duodenum, digestion continues as chyme from the stomach mixes with a variety of digestive juices from your pancreas, liver and gallbladder:

Pancreas. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes that help break down proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Liver. The liver produces bile, a solution that helps you digest fats.

Gallbladder. The gallbladder stores bile. As fatty food enters the upper portion of your small intestine (the duodenum), the gallbladder squeezes bile into the small intestine through the bile ducts.



Small intestine
As bile and pancreatic digestive juices mix with other juices secreted by the wall of your small intestine, digestion continues. What was once apple pie is propelled into the second portion of your small intestine, the jejunum. Here it's further broken down into smaller molecules of nutrients that can be absorbed. Then it moves into the final and longest portion of your small intestine — the ileum — where virtually all of the remaining nutrients are absorbed through the lining of the ileum's wall.

What remains of the food when it reaches the end of the ileum is a combination of water, electrolytes — such as sodium and chloride — and waste products, such as plant fiber and dead cells shed from the lining of your digestive tract.



Large intestine
As this residue passes through the colon, nearly all of the water is absorbed, leaving a usually soft but formed substance called stool. Muscles in the wall of your colon separate the waste into small segments that are pushed into your lower colon and rectum. As the rectal walls are stretched, they signal the need for a bowel movement.

When the sphincter muscles in your anus relax, the rectal walls contract to increase pressure. These coordinated muscle contractions expel the stool.

The End of Slide Show. 

Digestive System

The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus.

The major organs of the human gastrointestinal system.

The major organs of the human gastrointestinal system are identified in this drawing. The upper gastrointestinal tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The lower gastrointestinal tract includes most of the small intestine and all of the large intestine. According to some sources, it also includes the anus.

Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

The upper gastrointestinal tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The exact demarcation between upper and lower can vary. Upon gross dissection, the duodenum may appear to be a unified organ, but it is often divided into two parts based upon function, arterial supply, or embryology.

The upper gastrointestinal tract includes the:

Esophagus, the fibromuscular tube that food passes through—aided by peristaltic contractions—the pharynx to the stomach.

Stomach, which secretes protein-digesting enzymes called proteases and strong acids to aid in food digestion, before sending the partially digested food to the small intestines.

Duodenum, the first section of the small intestine that may be the principal site for iron absorption.

Lower Gastrointestinal Tract

The lower gastrointestinal tract includes most of the small intestine and all of the large intestine. According to some sources, it also includes the anus.




The small intestine has three parts:

Duodenum: Here the digestive juices from the pancreas (digestive enzymes) and the gallbladder (bile) mix together. The digestive enzymes break down proteins and bile and emulsify fats into micelles. The duodenum contains Brunner's glands that produce bicarbonate, and pancreatic juice that contains bicarbonate to neutralize hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Jejunum: This is the midsection of the intestine, connecting the duodenum to the ileum. It contains the plicae circulares and villi to increase the surface area of that part of the GI tract.

Ileum: This has villi, where all soluble molecules are absorbed into the blood ( through the capillaries and lacteals).

The large intestine has four parts:

1.Cecum, the vermiform appendix that is attached to the cecum.

2.Colon, which includes the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid flexure. The main function of the colon is to absorb water, but it also contains bacteria that produce beneficial vitamins like vitamin K.

3.Rectum.

4.Anus.

The ligament of Treitz is sometimes used to divide the upper and lower GI tracts.




Processes and Functions of the Digestive System

Digestion is necessary for absorbing nutrients from food and occurs through two processes: mechanical and chemical digestion.

The Digestive System

The proper functioning of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is imperative for our well being and life-long health. A non-functioning or poorly-functioning GI tract can be the source of many chronic health problems that can interfere with your quality of life. 

Here is a look at the importance of two main functions of the digestive system: digestion and absorption.

Digestion

The gastrointestinal tract is responsible for the breakdown and absorption of the various foods and liquids needed to sustain life. Many different organs have essential roles in the digestion of food, from the mechanical breakdown of food by the teeth to the creation of bile (an emulsifier) by the liver. 

Bile production plays a important role in digestion: it is stored and concentrated in the gallbladder during fasting stages, and discharged to the small intestine. Pancreatic juices are excreted into the digestive system to break down complex molecules such as proteins and fats. 

Absorption

Absorption occurs in the small intestines, where nutrients directly enter the bloodstream.

Each component of the digestive system plays a special role in these complimentary processes. The structure of each component highlights the function of that particular organ, providing a seamless anatomy to keep our body fueled and healthy.

Components of the Digestive System

The digestive system is comprised of the alimentary canal, or the digestive tract, and other accessory organs that play a part in digestion—such as the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas. The alimentary canal and the GI tract are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably. 

The alimentary canal is the long tube that runs from the mouth (where the food enters) to the anus (where indigestible waste leaves). The organs in the alimentary canal include the mouth (the site of mastication), the esophagus, the stomach, the small and large intestines, the rectum, and the anus. From mouth to anus, the average adult digestive tract is about thirty feet (30') long.

Processes of Digestion

Food is the body's source of fuel. The nutrients in food give the body's cells the energy they need to operate. Before food can be used it has to be mechanically broken down into tiny pieces, then chemically broken down so nutrients can be absorbed. 

In humans, proteins need to be broken down into amino acids, starches into sugars, and fats into fatty acids and glycerol. This mechanical and chemical breakdown encompasses the process of digestion.

To recap these twin processes:

Mechanical digestion: Larger pieces of food get broken down into smaller pieces while being prepared for chemical digestion; this process starts in the mouth and continues into the stomach. 

Chemical digestion: Several different enzymes break down macromolecules into smaller molecules that can be absorbed. The process starts in the mouth and continues into the intestines. 

Moistening and Breakdown of Food

Digestion begins in the mouth. A brain reflex triggers the flow of saliva when we see or even think about food. Enzymes in saliva then begin the chemical breakdown of food; teeth aid in the mechanical breakdown of larger food particles.

Saliva moistens the food, while the teeth masticate the food and make it easier to swallow. To accomplish this moistening goal, the salivary glands produce an estimated three liters of saliva per day. 

Amylase, the digestive enzyme found in saliva, starts to break down starch into simple sugars before the food even leaves the mouth. The nervous pathway involved in salivary excretion requires stimulation of receptors in the mouth, sensory impulses to the brain stem, and parasympathetic impulses to salivary glands. Once food is moistened and rolled and ready to swallow, it is known as a bolus.

Swallowing and the Movement of Food

For swallowing to happen correctly a combination of 25 muscles must all work together at the same time. Swallowing occurs when the muscles in your tongue and mouth move the bolus into your pharynx. Bolus (from Latin bolus, ball)is a small rounded mass of a substance, especially of chewed food at the moment of swallowing.
"mucin holds the particles of food together in a ball or bolus" Mucin is a glycoprotein constituent of mucus.
"mucin is secreted by the salivary glands"

The pharynx, which is the passageway for food and air, is about five inches (5") long—a remarkably small space. A small flap of skin called the epiglottis closes over the pharynx to prevent food from entering the trachea, which would cause choking. Instead, food is pushed into the muscular tube called the esophagus. Waves of muscle movement, called peristalsis, move the bolus down to the stomach.

While in the digestive tract, the food is really passing through the body rather than being in the body. The smooth muscles of the tubular digestive organs move the food efficiently along as it is broken down into easily absorbed ions and molecules.

Large-scale Breakdown in the Stomach

Once the bolus reaches the stomach, gastric juices mix with the partially digested food and continue the breakdown process. The bolus is converted into a slimy material called chyme. 



Major digestive hormones

There are at least five major digestive hormones in the gut of mammals that help process food through chemical digestion in the gall bladder, duodenum, stomach, and pancrease. These hormones are cholecystokinin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, motilin, secretin, and gastrin.

This (see above) is a drawing of the digestive system. This shows the five major digestive hormones in the gut of mammals that help process food through chemical digestion in the gall bladder, duodenum, stomach, and pancrease. These hormones are cholecystokinin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, motilin, secretin, and gastrin.

The stomach is a muscular bag that maneuvers food particles, mixing highly acidic gastric juice and powerful digestive enzymes with the chyme to prepare for nutrient absorption in the small intestine. Stimulatory hormones such as gastrin and motilin help the stomach pump gastric juice and move chyme. The complex network of hormones eventually prepares chyme for entry into the duodenum, the first segment of the small intestine.

Absorption in the Small Intestine

During absorption, the nutrients that come from food (such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals) pass through the wall of the small intestine and into the bloodstream. In this way nutrients can be distributed throughout the rest of the body. The small intestine increases surface area for absorption through tiny interior projections, like small fingers, called villi.

Waste Compaction in the Large Intestine

In the large intestine there is resorption of water and absorption of certain minerals as feces are formed. Feces are the waste parts of the food that the body passes out through the anus.

Organs of the Digestive System

The organs of the digestive system can be divided into upper and lower digestive tracts. The upper digestive tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, and the small intestine; the lower tract includes all of the large intestine, the rectum, and anus.

The human body uses a variety of mental and physiological cues to initiate the process of digestion. Throughout our gastrointestinal (GI) tract, each organ serves a specific purpose to bring our food from the plate to a digestible substance from which nutrients can be extracted.

The Digestive Tube

Our digestive system is like a long tube, with different segments doing different jobs. The major organs within our digestive system can be split into two major segments of this tube: the upper gastrointestinal tract, and the lower gastrointestinal tract.

The Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

The upper gastrointestinal, or GI, tract is made up of three main parts: 

The esophagus.

The stomach.

The small intestine. 



The Lower Gastrointestinal Tract

The lower GI tract contains the remainder of the system: 

The large intestine.

The rectum.

The anus. 

The exact dividing line between upper and lower tracts can vary, depending on which medical specialist is examining the GI tract.

Food Breakdown and Absorption: The Upper GI Tract

When we take a bite of food, the food material gets chewed up and processed in the mouth, where saliva begins the process of chemical and mechanical breakdown. The chewing process is also known as mastication. 

When we mix up food with saliva, the resulting mushy wad is called a bolus. The bolus gets swallowed, and begins its journey through the upper gastrointestinal tract.

The Esophagus

The upper GI tract begins with the esophagus, the long muscular tube that carries food to the stomach. The throat cavity in which our esophagus originates is known as the pharynx. As we swallow, the bolus moves down our esophagus, from the pharynx to the stomach, through waves of muscle movement known as peristalsis. Next the bolus reaches the stomach itself. 

The Stomach

The stomach is a muscular, hollow bag that is an important part of the upper GI tract. Many organisms have a variety of stomach types, with many segments or even multiple stomachs. As humans, we have only one stomach. 

Here our bolus gets mixed with digestive acids, furthering breakdown of the bolus, and turning the bolus material into a slimy mess called chyme. The chyme moves on into the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed.

The Small Intestine

The small intestine is an impressive digestive tube, spanning an average of 20 feet in length. The twists and turns of the small intestine, along with tiny interior projections known as villi, help to increase the surface area for nutrient absorption. 

This snaking tube is made up of three parts, in order from the stomach: 

The duodenum.

The jejunum. 

The ileum. 

As the chyme makes its way through each segment of the small intestine, pancreatic juices from the pancreas start to break down proteins. Soapy bile from the liver, stored in the gallbladder, gets squirted into the small intestine to help emulsify—or break apart—fats. 

Now thoroughly digested, with its nutrients absorbed along the path of the small intestine, what remains of our food gets passed into the lower GI tract.

Waste Compaction and Removal: The Lower Gastrointestinal Tract

The Large Intestine (Colon)

Following nutrient absorption, the food waste reaches the large intestine, or colon. The large intestine is responsible for compacting waste material, removing water, and producing feces—our solid-waste product. 

Accessory organs like the cecum and appendix, which are remnants of our evolutionary past, serve as special pockets at the beginning of the large intestine. The compacted and dried-out waste passes to the rectum, and out of the body through the anus. Healthy gut bacteria in the large intestine also help to metabolize our waste as it finishes its journey.



Enteric Nervous System

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) that directly controls the gastrointestinal system.

The gastrointestinal (GI) system has its own nervous system, the enteric nervous system (ENS). Neurogastroenterology is the study of the enteric nervous system, a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) that directly controls the gastrointestinal system. The ENS is capable of autonomous functions such as the coordination of reflexes. 

Although it receives considerable innervation from the autonomic nervous system, it can and does operate independently of the brain and the spinal cord. The ENS consists of some 100 million neurons, one-thousandth of the number of neurons in the brain, and about one-tenth the number of neurons in the spinal cord. The enteric nervous system is embedded in the lining of the gastrointestinal system.

Ganglia of the ENS

The neurons of the ENS are collected into two types of ganglia: 

1.The myenteric (Auerbach's) plexus, located between the inner and outer layers of the muscularis externa.

2.The submucosal (Meissner's) plexus, located in the submucosa. 

The Myenteric Plexus 

The myenteric plexus is mainly organized as a longitudinal chains of neurons. When stimulated, this plexus increases the tone of the gut as well as the velocity and intensity of its contractions. This plexus is concerned with motility throughout the whole gut. Inhibition of the myenteric system helps to relax the sphincters—the muscular rings that control the flow of digested food or food waste. 

The Submucosal Plexus

The submucosal plexus is more involved with local conditions and controls local secretion and absorption, as well as local muscle movements. The mucosa and epithelial tissue associated with the submucosal plexus have sensory nerve endings that feed signals to both layers of the enteric plexus. These tissues also send information back to the sympathetic pre-vertebral ganglia, the spinal cord, and the brain stem.




Neural control of the gut.
An illustration of neural control of the gut wall by the autonomic nervous system and the enteric nervous system.


Function and Structure of the ENS

The enteric nervous system has been described as a second brain. There are several reasons for this. For instance, the enteric nervous system can operate autonomously. It normally communicates with the central nervous system (CNS) through the parasympathetic (e.g., via the vagus nerve) and sympathetic (e.g., via the prevertebral ganglia) nervous systems. However, vertebrate studies show that when the vagus nerve is severed, the enteric nervous system continues to function.

In vertebrates, the enteric nervous system includes efferent neurons, afferent neurons, and interneurons, all of which make the enteric nervous system capable of carrying reflexes and acting as an integrating center in the absence of CNS input. For instance, the sensory neurons report mechanical and chemical conditions, while the motor neurons control peristalsis and the churning of intestinal contents through the intestinal muscles. Other neurons control the secretion of enzymes. 

The enteric nervous system also makes use of more than 30 neurotransmitters, most of which are identical to the ones found in the CNS, such as acetylcholine, dopamine, and serotonin. More than 90% of the body's serotonin is in the gut, as well as about 50% of the body's dopamine, which is currently being studied to further our understanding of its utility in the brain.

The enteric nervous system has the capacity to alter its response depending on factors such as bulk and nutrient composition. In addition, the ENS contains support cells that are similar to the astroglia of the brain, as well as a diffusion barrier around the capillaries that surround the ganglia, which is similar to the blood–brain barrier of the cerebral blood vessels.

Regulation of ENS Function

The parasympathetic nervous system is able to stimulate the enteric nerves in order to increase enteric function. The parasympathetic enteric neurons function in defecation and provide a rich nerve supply to the sigmoid colon, the rectum, and the anus.

Conversely, stimulation of the enteric nerves by the sympathetic nervous system will inhibit enteric function and capabilities. Neurotransmitter secretion and direct inhibition of the enteric plexuses cause this stall in function. If the gut tract is irritated or distended, afferent nerves will send signals to the medulla of the brain for further processing.

Gastrointestinal Reflex Pathways

The digestive system functions via a system of long reflexes, short reflexes, and extrinsic reflexes from gastrointestinal (GI) peptides that work together.

Food in the Digestive System

The digestive system has a complex system of food movement and secretion regulation, which are vital for its proper function. Movement and secretion are regulated by long reflexes from the central nervous system (CNS), short reflexes from the enteric nervous system (ENS), and reflexes from the gastrointestinal system (GI) peptides that work in harmony with each other. 

In addition, there are three overarching reflexes that control the movement, digestion, and defecation of food and food waste: 

1.The enterogastric reflex.

2.The gastrocolic reflex.

3.The gastroileal reflex.

Long and Short Reflexes

Long reflexes to the digestive system involve a sensory neuron that sends information to the brain. This sensory information can come from within the digestive system, or from outside the body in the form of emotional response, danger, or a reaction to food. 

These alternative sensory responses from outside the digestive system are also known as feedforward reflexes. Emotional responses can also trigger GI responses, such as the butterflies in the stomach feeling when nervous. 

Control of the digestive system is also maintained by enteric nervous system (ENS), which can be thought of as a digestive brain that helps to regulate motility, secretion, and growth. The enteric nervous system can act as a fast, internal response to digestive stimuli. When this occurs, it is called a short reflex. 

Three Main Types of Gastrointestinal Reflex

1.The enterogastric reflex is stimulated by the presence of acid levels in the duodenum at a pH of 3–4 or in the stomach at a pH of 1.5. When this reflex is stimulated, the release of gastrin from G-cells in the antrum of the stomach is shut off. In turn, this inhibits gastric motility and the secretion of gastric acid (HCl). Enterogastric reflex activation causes decreased motility.

2.The gastrocolic reflex is the physiological reflex that controls the motility, or peristalsis, of the gastrointestinal tract. It involves an increase in motility of the colon in response to stretch in the stomach and the byproducts of digestion in the small intestine. Thus, this reflex is responsible for the urge to defecate following a meal. The small intestine also shows a similar motility response. The gastrocolic reflex also helps make room for food in the stomach.

3.The gastroileal reflex is a third type of gastrointestinal reflex. It works with the gastrocolic reflex to stimulate the urge to defecate. This urge is stimulated by the opening of the ileocecal valve and the movement of the digested contents from the ileum of the small intestine into the colon for compaction.




Peristalis
The gastrocolic reflex is one of a number of physiological reflexes that control the motility, or peristalsis, of the gastrointestinal tract.


GI Peptides that Contribute to Gastrointestinal Signals
GI peptides are signal molecules that are released into the blood by the GI cells themselves. They act on a variety of tissues that include the brain, the digestive accessory organs, and the GI tract. 

The effects range from excitatory or inhibitory effects on motility and secretion, to feelings of satiety or hunger when acting on the brain. These hormones fall into three major categories: 

1.The gastrin family.

2.The secretin family.

3.A third family that is composed of the hormones that do not fit into either of these two families.

Chapter 4 THE PROBIOTIC MIRACLE

Chapter 4

THE PROBIOTIC MIRACLE

An Army Of Billions

When you were born, your intestines were free of microorganisms, virtually sterile. Almost immediately, however, bacteria, both beneficial and harmful, fought for dominance.[1*]
 If you were breast fed, somewhere between days four and seven after you were born, the "good guys" won the battle and staked their claim to virtually every square inch of your digestive tract—from your mouth to your anus.[2**]
 (Researchers now realize that one of the chief reasons breast-fed babies get so many fewer infections than formula-fed babies is that mother's milk tends to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, whereas store-bought formulas have
little such beneficial effect.) Anyway, the net result is that in a breast-fed baby, beneficial bacteria
(such as bifidobacteria) control over 90% of the intestinal tract. These microorganisms, in turn, produce a large amount of essential byproducts in the intestines, which act as a barrier to the growth of dangerous pathogenic microbes that can cause disease and infection.

[1*: It's a battle that's never totally won; the harmful bacteria are never completely eliminated. But in a healthy body, the bad guys never get a chance to gain a foothold—to colonize—to reproduce exponentially. One of the problems, of course, is that every second of every single day, we are constantly being exposed to billions and billions of potentially harmful microorganisms with every breath we take or bit of food that we swallow or swig of water that we drink.]

[2**: The same battle is fought in the vaginal tract, the nasal cavities, and in the mouth. Just as a note, there are some 40 different types of bacteria resident in a healthy mouth alone.]


   When you're healthy, over 100 trillion microorganisms from some 400 different species flourish in your intestinal tract, aiding in digestion, absorption, and the production of significant amounts of B vitamins and enzymes. But even more importantly, they cover virtually every square inch of available surface space from your mouth to your anus, thus crowding out all harmful bacteria—allowing them no place to gain a foothold.

  Unfortunately,the levels of beneficial bacteria decline dramatically as the human body ages. Some of the reasons for this decline include:

> Over time, the colonies of friendly bacteria just naturally age and lose their vitality.

> Disruptions and changes in the acid/alkaline balance of the bowels can play a major role in reducing the growth of beneficial bacteria. In addition, these changes tend to favor the growth of harmful viral and fungal organisms as well as putrefactive, disease-causing bacteria.

> Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Advil, Motrin, Midol, etc. are destructive to intestinal flora.

> Chlorine in the drinking water not only serves to kill bacteria in the water; it is equally devastating to the colonies of beneficial bacteria living in the intestines.

 > Radiation and chemotherapy are devastating to your inner bacterial environment.

> Virtually all meat, chicken, and dairy that you eat (other than organic) is loaded with antibiotics, which destroy all of the beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.

 > A diet high in meats and fats, because they take so long to break down in the human body, promotes the growth of the harmful, putrefying bacteria.

 > Constipation, of course, allows harmful bacteria to hang around longer, which allows them to proliferate.

> Cigarettes, alcohol, and stress are also major culprits, as are some antibiotic herbs,
such as goldenseal (if taken in sufficient quantity).

> And if you've ever been subjected to a round of "medicinal" antibiotics, you can kiss your beneficial bacteria goodbye. The problem is that antibiotics indiscriminately destroy both bad and good bacteria, allowing virulent, mutant strains of harmful microorganisms to emerge and run rampant inside the body.[1*]

A properly functioning intestinal tract is one of your body's first lines of defense against invaders. In a healthy colon there are, on average, anywhere from 100 billion to 100 trillion beneficial bacteria per milliliter (about 1/5 of a teaspoon) that literally consume harmful bacteria and other invaders. In the typical American, because of poor diet and neglect of the colon, the beneficial bacteria count may be as low as four or five per milliliter. Just compare 100 trillion to four, and ...

[1* Antibiotics (both medicinal and in our food supply) are the #1 culprit in the overgrowth of harmful pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract (a condition called dysbiosis) that may be at the root of many autoimmune disorders and certain cancers.] 

...you'll have an understanding of the scope of the problem. Many researchers now believe that declining levels of friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract may actually mark the onset of chronic degenerative disease. The benefits of a probiotically optimized intestinal tract include:
>Lowered cholesterol;

>Inhibition of cancer;

>Protection against food poisoning;

>Protection against stomach ulcers;

>Protection against lactose intolerance and casein intolerance;

>Enhanced immunity;

>Protection against many harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi;

>Protection against candida overgrowth and vaginal yeast infections;

>Prevention and correction of constipation and diarrhea, ileitis and colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and a whole range of other digestive tract dysfunctions;

>Improvement in the health and appearance of the skin;

>Better nutrition from improved absorption and the internal generation of B vitamins;

>Protection against vaginosis and yeast infections.

Summary

  There can be no true health or recovery from disease unless you have colonies of over 100 trillion beneficial microorganisms flourishing throughout your intestinal tract, aiding in digestion,
absorption, the production of significant amounts of vitamins and enzymes, and working to crowd out all harmful bacteria—allowing them no place to gain a foothold. Supplementation with a
good probiotic is mandatory to raise your baseline of health.

General Recommendations

  A good probiotic formula is absolutely essential for long-term intestinal health and long-term parasite control. When choosing a probiotic, look for the following characteristics:

  Not all strains of beneficial bacteria are created equal. For each type of bacteria, there are recognized super strains. Choose a formula that uses only recognized super strains of beneficial bacteria. They will be identified as such on the label or in the company literature. If the strains are not identified, don't buy it.

  Make sure the formula you choose was developed using full-culture processing so that the beneficial bacteria and its powerful supernatant are kept together. The supernatant, which is the medium the culture was grown in, contains a multitude
of beneficial byproducts of the growth process, including vitamins, enzymes, antioxidants, and immune stimulators. 

  Then there's the question of how many live microorganisms are left in your formula when you actually use it. Pick up any probiotic formula, look at the label, and you'll see something like: "Contains 13 billion live organisms per capsule at time of manufacture." And that's the problem: "at time of manufacture." The die-off rate can be astounding. Most formulas will experience a die-off approaching log-3 (or down to a paltry 13 million) within just 60 days of manufacture.[1*]
 Heat and moisture accelerate the process, which is why most manufacturers recommend that both you and the store in which you bought your formula keep your probiotic supply refrigerated.

  There are many beneficial bacteria that can be contained in a good probiotic, but two are preeminent. Look for a formula based on these two:
- L. acidophilus resides primarily in the small intestine [2*]
 and produces a number of powerful antimicrobial compounds in the gut (including acidolin, acidolphilin, lactocidin, and bacteriocin). These compounds can inhibit the growth and toxin producing capabilities of some 23 known disease-causing pathogens (including campylobacter, listeria, and staphylococci), as well as reduce tumor growth and effectively neutralize or inhibit carcinogenic substances. There are three recognized super strains of acidophilus: DDS, NAS, and BT1386. You will find DDS and NAS
in most of the better formulas, but my personal preference is for BT1386. It has an extremely high potential for attachment to the epithelial cells that line the intestine; it's a high producer of hydrogen peroxide, which kills pathogenic bacteria; and, of
the three strains, it's the only one capable of utilizing glycogen to survive and flourish, which means it can thrive in the urinary tract, where it produces lactic acid to inhibit the growth of pathogens. This is particularly important to women to help prevent a whole range of vaginal infections.

- Many researchers believe that declining levels of bifidobacteria in the large intestine actually mark the eventual onset of chronic degenerative disease. Bifidobacteria benefit the body in a number of ways. They (1) consume old fecal matter; (2) have the ability to remove cancer-forming elements, or the enzymes which lead to their formation; (3) protect against the formation of liver, colon, and mammary gland tumors. And in addition to all of that, (4) bifidobacteria are substantial producers of a range of important B vitamins.

  More is not always better. Too many beneficial bacteria in one formula may find the bacteria competing with each other before they can establish themselves in separate areas of the intestinal tract. On the other hand, there are several other bacteria that are extremely beneficial in any probiotic formula.

- L salivarius helps digest foods in the intestinal tract and makes vital nutrients more assimilable. It also works to eat away encrusted fecal matter throughout the entire colon; it helps repair the intestinal tract by providing needed enzymes and essential nutrients; and it adheres to the intestinal wall, thereby forming a living matrix that helps protect the mucosal lining.

[1* There is a new process called LiveBac®, which significantly retards the rate of die-off. Look for formulas that make use of this process.]

[2* It's also important to note that L. acidophilus is the primary beneficial bacteria in the vaginal tract. When the presence of the acidophilus is compromised, this allows the bad guys such as Gardnerella vaginalis or E. coli or Chlamydia to take over.] 

- L. rhamnosus is a powerful immune stimulator. It can increase the natural killing activity of spleen cells, which may help to prevent tumor formation. It boosts the ability of the body to destroy foreign invaders and other harmful matter by three times normal activity; and has been shown to increase circulating antibody levels by six to
eight times.

- L. plantarum has the ability to eliminate thousands of species of pathogenic bacteria. It also has extremely high adherence potential for epithelial tissue and seems to favor colonizing the same areas of the intestinal tract that E. coli prefers—in effect, serving to crowd E. coli out of the body. At one time, plantarum was a major part of our diets (found in sourdough bread, sauerkraut, etc.), but is now virtually nowhere to be found.

- Other important friendly bacteria you might find in a good formula include: Streptococcus thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, and L. casei.

- Much has been written about the properties of the soil-based bacteria such as: Bacillus subtilis, L. sporogenes, and B. laterosporus. For many people, they can produce a powerful boost to the immune system. But, in certain circumstances, they may become toxic. It's hard to argue with the great results that many people have had using formulations that contain these cultures. On the other hand, it's possible to get all of the same results using only the "safer" cultures that I've mentioned above.

- Note: a good probiotic formulation will usually contain fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) which help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.[1]

  - One final note: start slowly. When you first start using a probiotic supplement, there is a good chance that you will precipitate a die-off of bad bacteria in your intestinal tract. This can lead to excessive gas and stomach rumblings and cramping
for 10-21 days. Start with one capsule (or even half) for several days. Build up slowly to the recommended dosage for your particular supplement.

>Eating yogurt (unless you make your own) does not really help. First, the bacteria used to make most yogurt (L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus) are not the key beneficial bacteria, although they are indeed helpful. (Some brands throw a small amount of acidophilus in after the fact—just so they can put it on the label). Even more important, though, much of the yogurt that you buy in the store is now pasteurized after it is made. Pasteurization before the yogurt culture is introduced is essential to the making of yogurt; but pasteurization after the culture has been allowed to grow is done merely to increase shelf life and totally destroys all the benefits inherent in the yogurt.

>A diet high in complex carbohydrates such as fruits, grains, and vegetables promotes the growth of bifidobacteria in the large intestine.

>And of course, drinking chlorinated water, or eating meats or dairy produced with antibiotics, totally defeats any program you're on.

[1 For some of these bacteria, such as the Bifidus, FOS can increase their effectiveness by a factor of 1,000 times or more!! ]

Chapter 3 INTESTINAL CLEANSING, DETOXIFICATION, AND REBUILDING

Chapter 3

INTESTINAL CLEANSING,
DETOXIFICATION, AND REBUILDING



  There is an old saying that "death begins in the colon." This is an oversimplification to be sure, but more accurate than not. In fact, the road to health begins with Intestinal cleansing and detoxification—no matter what the disease or problem.

  Unfortunately, most people confine their understanding of intestinal cleansing to its effect on fecal matter. And while it is true that cleansing programs do draw old fecal matter out of the colon, limiting the discussion to fecal matter misses the big picture.

  Understand that what we have is essentially a continuous tube from the mouth to the anus, and each part of that tube has a specific function to perform. Among these are:

  Digestion of the food we eat.

 Transferring the nutritional value of that food into the body.

  Processing the waste from that food and eliminating it from the
body.

  Serving as a drain pipe for waste produced as a result of metabolic functions within the body itself.

  Serving as a drain for toxic substances absorbed through our lungs and skin, etc.

  Functioning as a first line of defense in the body's immune system by identifying and eliminating viruses and unhealthy bacteria ingested with our food.

  Any program of Intestinal Cleansing, Detoxification, and Rebuilding must address all of these aspects. Specifically, it must serve to:

  Remove all old fecal matter and waste from the colon (to clear the drain, if you will).

  Remove all the heavy metals and drug residues that have accumulated in the body as a result of having your drain plugged.

  Strengthen the colon muscle so that it works again.

  Repair any damage such as herniations and inflammations of the colon and small intestine.

  Eliminate the presence of polyps and other abnormal growths that have been allowed to flourish because of an unhealthy intestinal environment.

  Rebuild and replenish the various friendly bacteria cultures that ideally should line virtually every square inch of that tube—from mouth to anus.

The Problem

  In 1985, between 60 and 70 million Americans were affected by digestive disorders. Today it's close to 100 million. In fact, digestive disorders are responsible for over 50 million physician
visits and more hospitalizations than any other category of medical problems in the United States today. The total cost to the American public for all aspects of digestive disease is well
over $100,000,000,000.00 per year.

What Digestive Diseases?

 Constipation and the attendant symptoms of self-toxification

Diverticular disease (herniations of the colon)

Hemorrhoids

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Ulcerative Colitis

Crohn's Disease

Colon/Rectal Cancer

Other Related Diseases

  It is worth noting that many other diseases that at first glance appear to have no connection with the digestive tract have actually been related by many doctors to functional bowel disorder.
These include: Diabetes, Gall Stones, Kidney Stones, Gout, Hypertension, Varicose Veins, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, and Obesity.

Parasites!

  As if that were not enough, it has been estimated that as many as 80% of all Americans are afflicted
with intestinal parasites.[1]
 Symptoms include nervousness, grinding of the teeth at night,
aches and pains that move from place to place in the body, mimicked appendicitis, ulcers and various digestive pain, nausea or diarrhea, itching, acne, foul breath, furred tongue, jaundice, fatigue, menstrual irregularities, and insomnia.

Candida

  And finally, more and more doctors are becoming aware of how endemic yeast infections such as Candida Albicans are. Symptoms include chronic fatigue (especially after eating), depression,
bloating, gas, cramps, chronic diarrhea or constipation, rectal itching, allergies, severe PMS, impotence, memory loss, severe mood swings, recurrent fungal infections (such as athlete's foot),
extreme sensitivity to chemicals (perfumes, smoke, odors, etc.), and lightheadedness or drunkenness after minimal wine, beer, or sugar.

But It's Even Worse 

  The situation is serious. Diseases of the digestive system have reached an all time high in the United States and are still on the rise. The number one cancer among men and women combined is colon/rectal cancer.

  According to the Merck Manual (the medical industry's standard text for the diagnosis and treatment of disease), the incidence of diverticulosis has increased dramatically over the last 40 years. It has gone from 10% of the adult population over the age of 45 who had this disease (according to an early 1950's edition) to an astounding, "every person has many" in the 1992 edition.
In other words, virtually 100% of all American adults will eventually have diverticulosis of the large intestine if they live long enough.

Why?

  Our modern lifestyle has taken its toll on our digestive/elimination organs. Refined, processed, low fiber foods, animal fats, a lack of exercise, and an ever increasing level of stress all contribute to our current gastro-intestinal health crisis.

[*1: Many health professionals would dispute this number, calling it far too high. And if you limit your discussion of parasites to things such as tape worms and Chinese liver flukes, they are correct. But the fact is, as soon as you open up to the true nature of the problem and begin including the lesser known, but far more prevalent, parasites such as Demodex human and Fasciolopsis buskii, the 80% figure begins to fall into line. And then if you include E. coli and Candida overgrowths (both of which fit the dictionary definition of a parasite: any organism that grows

and feeds in another while contributing nothing in return), then the 80% figure is decidedly conservative.]

  Consider that a sluggish bowel can retain pounds of old toxic and poisonous fecal matter (10-20 pounds is not unusual, and up to 65 pounds has actually been reported). Many times the real cause behind sickness and disease is this retention and reabsorption of built-up toxic waste.
  There has been a great misconception among the public and most medical professionals about
how often a normal healthy person should move their bowels. For years, doctors have thought
that anywhere between one bowel movement a day and one a week was normal. What we have
learned is that it is normal, and necessary, to have one bowel movement a day for each meal you
eat. (If you eat three meals, you should have three bowel movements the next day.)

Toxic Lymph

  Think for a moment, if you will, of your colon as your body's drain pipe—the drain that removes waste from your body. If the drain is clogged, not only will waste not be eliminated, but when you flush the toilet, the drain backs up and spills over.

  And that's exactly the point which leads us to a discussion of waste removal from the body and the lymph system.

  The lymph vessels comprise a network of capillaries which filter blood impurities; they contain a clear, colorless fluid (lymph). Lymph passes from capillaries to lymph vessels and flows through
lymph nodes that are located along the course of these vessels. Cells of the lymph nodes phagocytize, or ingest, such impurities as bacteria, old red blood cells, and toxic and cellular waste.
Lymph fluid can also collect other impurities such as heavy metals and pesticides and drug residues stored in bodily tissue. Once loaded with toxic waste, the compromised lymph must exit your body.

  What can't be eliminated in your urine must pass out through your colon. What do you think happens to all this waste if the plumbing is plugged or sluggish? Is it any wonder we get sick and keep on getting sicker?

Probiotics

We're going to be discussing probiotics in detail in the next chapter, but for now, it's worth noting their importance in maintaining not only intestinal health, but overall health. Our intestinal tract contains thousands of billions of bacteria—all microscopic in size—and yet, because of their sheer numbers, their total weight is close to 3 1/2 pounds in the average adult. Approximately 1/3
of the dry weight of our fecal matter is composed of bacteria—living and dead, harmful and beneficial. A major indicator of the state of our health, both intestinal and overall, is in the composition
of those bacteria.

What Can Be Done?

  Any program designed to clean, detoxify, and rebuild the colon needs to address several key areas. The program must:

  Help bring the colon back to life by stimulating the muscle movement of the colon.

Encourage matter to move forward through the system.


Halt putrefaction.

  Draw old fecal matter off the walls of the colon and out of any bowel pockets.

  Disinfect.

  Draw out poisons and toxins.

  Help leach out heavy metals such as mercury and lead.

  Remove chemicals and drug residues.

  Even remove radioactive material such as Strontium 90.

  Soothe and promote the healing of the mucous membrane lining of the entire digestive tract.

  Help stimulate the body to begin the healing and repair of  herniated areas.

  Increase the flow of bile to help clean the gall bladder, bile ducts,  and liver.
  
  Promote healthy intestinal flora.

  Destroy and expel parasites.

  Destroy Candida albicans overgrowth.

  Maintain regularity.

  Decrease straining.

  Speed up the transit time of feces through the large intestine.

  Promote the growth of beneficial bacteria colonies in the intestinal  tract.

  Once you look at the requirements of a good intestinal program,  it's easy to see that no one formula or magic pill can accomplish it  all.

  Summary

  The foundation of any health or healing program must begin with the intestinal tract—not necessarily because it is inherently more important than any other system or organ in the body, but because it's the area of the body upon which we focus our greatest abuse, and because it impacts  virtually every other system in the body. This point is so important that it's worth reviewing the
core issues that we've covered in this chapter.

  1. The colon is the main elimination channel of the body. It is the  means by which we eliminate the toxic waste of the digestive 
 process, including massive amounts of E. coli bacteria and parasite  larvae. If that waste hangs around longer than necessary, its impact  on the body is profound. And yet, because of dietary and health  habits, the average American stores, on average, between
 10-20 pounds of old (sometimes decades old) fecal matter in  their  colons. I personally know of people who, while on a colon  cleansing program, have passed the coins they had swallowed, or  the multi-colored waxes  of the crayons they had eaten when they  were children, over 50 years ago.

  2. The liver is the main detoxifying organ of the body. It filters out  dangerous drug residues and poisons from the blood and passes  them out of the body—through the colon via the bile duct. Plug the  colon and it's like flushing a toilet plugged with toilet paper;  everything backs up. The net result is sickness and disease. The  important point to remember here is that you can't even begin to  cleanse and repair the other systems in the body until you clean
 out the colon so that the toxic material will have a clean path out of  the body.

  3. Physically, the colon is not designed to store large amounts of  old fecal matter. There just isn't room for it. If you have 10, 20, 30  pounds of extra garbage in there, there's only one thing that can  happen; the colon must distend and expand.
 This causes the walls of the colon to thin out (like blowing up a  balloon more and more). As the walls extend out, they press on  and compress other organs in the abdominal cavity.

  4. Old fecal matter is an ideal breeding ground for harmful  bacteria and dangerous parasites.

  5. Intestinal flora are an essential part of health. If you eat foods  laced with antibiotics and drink water with chlorine in it, you  eliminate virtually all beneficial bacteria—providing an absolutely  open environment for the proliferation of harmful bacteria, such as  E. coli.

  6. Your intestinal tract is the source of all nutrient access to your  body. If it isn't working properly, you have two major problems.

  >First, you have a hard time digesting food properly—breaking it  down sufficiently so that your body can use it.

  >And then, even if you can digest it properly, if the intestinal wall  is covered with hardened waste and colonies of hostile bacteria/  flora, you'll end up absorbing only a fraction of the nutritional  value of the food you eat.

  The bottom line is that any program we design to improve our  health or to eliminate disease from our bodies must begin with  Intestinal Cleansing, Detoxification, and Rebuilding.
 It is the "sine qua non"[1*] of health.

  General Recommendations

 What is required is a four-pronged approach. 

  A probiotic formula to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria    colonies in the intestinal tract.

  A good source of fiber to compensate for all of the fiberless  processed foods, meat, and dairy that we eat.

 [1*:  Literally, "Without which, there is not."]

   The best single source of fiber in the world is ground organic          flaxseed meal. One and a half tablespoons in the morning and  evening with juice will keep you regular and also provide you with  the best single source of Omega-3 oils in the world. In addition,  the sulfur-rich proteins present in the seeds work hand in hand with  the Omega-3 oils to literally reverse mutated cells and cancer in  the body.

  For some people, a good probiotic formula alone will serve to wake up their colon and get it working again. Most people, however will need a stimulating herbal colonactivator formula that provides both cleansing and healing to the entire gastrointestinal
system (at least until their colons rebuild).

  Look for a formula that contains all organic herbs such as: Cape  Aloe, Senna, Cascara Sagrada, Barberry Rootbark, Ginger Root, African Bird Pepper, and Fennel.

  This formula will serve as an intestinal detoxifier to loosen and draw out old fecal matter, waste, and toxins. It will stimulate peristalsis (the muscular movement of the colon). It will also halt putrefaction, disinfect, and soothe and heal the mucous membrane lining of your entire digestive tract. It will also help improve digestion, relieve gas and cramps, increase the flow of bile (which in turn cleans the gall bladder, bile ducts, and liver), destroy Candida albicans overgrowth, and promote a healthy intestinal flora, destroy and expel intestinal parasites, and increase
gastrointestinal circulation.

  Periodically (approximately every 3 months), you will need a strong purifier and intestinal vacuum to help draw old fecal matter off the walls of your colon and out of any bowel pockets and to also draw out poisons, toxins, heavy metals (such as mercury and lead), and even remove radioactive material such as Strontium 90 from your body. Such a formula will also remove over 2,000 known drug residues.

Look for a formula that contains all organic herbs such as: Apple Fruit Pectin, pharmaceutical grade Montmorillonite Clay, Slippery Elm Inner Bark, Marshmallow Root, Fennel Seed, Activated Willow Charcoal, and psyllium seeds and husks.

  The natural mucilaginous properties of this formula will soften old hardened fecal matter for easy removal and also make it an excellent remedy for any inflammation or irritation in the stomach and intestines. This formula is helpful in irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, and hemorrhoids.

  And on top of everything else, this formula will eliminate the effects of food poisoning or stomach flu in 20-40 minutes!

  Regular use of this four-part program will help keep your  body in optimal health and vitality for as long as you live.