How is the small intestine adapted for absorbing products if digestion?

Answer 1

If digestion is impaired by food intolerances, which may be a product of unknowingly repeatedly eating offending foods, it causes inflammation. The intestines then produce extra mucus to line the gut against the invading item(s). Seaweeds have mucilage in them, which, if your gut is already inflamed, may make them more difficult to absorb.

For food intolerances, be aware of how you feel after you eat something. If it doesn't feel quite right, stay away from it next time you eat and see if you feel a little bit better. If an offending item is in your digestive tract, it takes the body precisely 72 hours to completely discharge all remnants and not a second less (see "Food Combining Works" by Lee DuBelle).

It all starts when the liver gets overloaded. If digestion is overly challenged on a continual basis, the liver can get congested. If congested with the food byproducts it does not tolerate on a continual basis, it can become so congested that it backs up, becoming unable to do it's job of secreting adequate bile. Bile is critical to digesting fats. Therefore digestion can begin to suffer. If digestion cannot flow smoothly and clean out, opportunistic organisms that naturally reside in the body can take the opportunity to overgrow and can cause an intestinal infection to occur.

If food intolerances are in your life, I suggest you read up about "Leaky Gut" which is a reality for some people. Continual assault of non-agreeable foods causes a whole cascade of events that can eventually erode the lining of the intestines and cause minute particles of food molecules to pass through to the bloodstream instead of out through the digestive tract.

The best diet for the above is one of smaller amounts of whole grains (best to avoid glutens, especially for the first 2-6 months, depending on how bad your situation is and how strict you are with avoiding the offending foods), vegetables, lean meats and good quality oils such as flax or omega 3 fish oils and evening primrose oil.

If grains are not tolerated, there may be an infection (mold, bacterial, fungal, viral or parasital). Getting tested by a specialty lab such as Genova Diagnostics or other specialty lab can identify the invader. They test for a wide variety of unwanted organisms and tell you what natural and pharmaceutical remedies are sensitive to it. A qualified naturopathic physician can prescribe the lab tests for you. Cost can be $200.-250.00 but you can't wage dollar bills against your health if you can afford to try.

There are plenty of books out on "Candida yeast". If you are unfortunate enough to not be able to eat any grains without becoming sleepy and having sore eyes and a bloated belly that isn't digesting foods, get tested to see what is wrong. A diet that avoids vinegars, tomatoes, sugar from any source, white flour, dairy, fruit and caffeine will help and would be necessary in order to not feed the yeast if yeast is your problem. If it's not yeast but is another organism, some amount of carbohydrate can usually be tolerated. If it is yeast, yeast thrive on carbohydrates which eventually break down into sugars. In the case of yeast, carbohydrates, unfortunately, must be avoided and an antifungal medicine must be taken until the flora are brought back into balance. Then carbohydrates can be introduced cautiously back into the diet in the form of whole grains and vegetables and possibly low sugar fruits in small amounts, such as strawberries, cantaloupe and honeydew melon.

As you can see, it is important to take care of your digestive tract for many reasons.

Best of health and happiness to you.

Good luck and happy hunting.