The 3 Essentials You Need to Break Down Your Foods

In order to break down your meals, your body needs to be producing adequate amounts of these three things:

Stomach acid, digestive enzymes, and bile

Without adequate amounts of each of these functional supports, digestion will be poor.  Nutrients cannot be absorbed, the digestive tract can become irritated and dysbiosis (or an imbalance in gut flora) can flourish.₁

What is the purpose of each one? 

1. Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) or stomach acid. The primary job of stomach acid is to break down protein into amino acids, which your body uses to build tissues like muscle, enzymes, and hormones.  Low stomach acid production can also lead to nutrient deficiencies, especially calcium, zinc, and iron.  
2. Digestive enzymes: Besides stomach acid, digestive enzymes are also needed for assisting to break down the carbs, proteins, and fats in your food.  When our food isn’t broken down well, it stays in the stomach for longer than it should, resulting in gas and bloating, an imbalance in the gut microbiome, damage to the tissue, and other uncomfortable digestive symptoms.  
3. The last essential component that is critical for digestion is bile.   We need bile in order to break up fat into fatty acids to be used by our bodies.  Bile is used as a surfactant, acting like soap on a greasy dish pan, breaking down the fats in the process.  Without bile, we miss out on essential fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. ₂  Bile is also important for stimulating the movement of food through the gastrointestinal system.  And when motility slows, constipation often results. 

The good news is that there is a lot we can do to support the production of these!  I struggled with poor digestion for years, including symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux, bloating, and constipation.  After finding out the root causes, I was able to heal using a holistic approach. 

If you would like more information on the signs to watch out for with low production of stomach acid, as well as ways to support its production, refer to last week’s blog post.  Stay tuned-I’ll be telling you about the signs of not producing enough digestive enzymes, and how to support it.  

References:

1. Weatherby, Dicken. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective.  Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.
2. Restorative Wellness Solutions. Digestion-Anatomy and Physiology. [PDF File]. 2022. P 7, 12