I regularly have people coming to me with digestive disorders. Heartburn, reflux, IBS, ulcers, diverticulitis, Crohn’s Disease, Colitis, constipation, persistent diarrhea, etc. I love treating digestive disorders because when we straighten it out, it’s amazing how many other health maladies straighten out as a result. One question I frequently ask is “Do you have teeth in your stomach?” That generally results in a widened expression or a chuckle. But so many people act like they do!
We have reduced the important role of digestion to a series of labels that result in years (or a lifetime) of medications and forget the absolute necessity of the role of digestion in health. Many health experts believe that most problems with health result in faulty digestion.
Digestion isn’t just about eating for pleasure so you can live. Digestion is sending the nourishing compounds necessary for growth and repair. Cells die daily from every organ and tissue, and the body needs to replace them. We need raw materials (good nourishing food), to accomplish that. Then, whatever is not needed, including dead cells and other wastes, gets dumped.
Digestive enzymes go beyond just breaking down our foods. It is also the first line of defense against pathogens consumed – bacteria, viruses, molds, yeasts, fungi and parasites – that may be in our food, killing them before they make us sick. Digestion (and mucus membranes) create a hospitable environment for beneficial bacteria to survive. In fact, without healthy bacteria, you are handicapping your immune response.
To have healthy digestion, we need to begin in the mouth. Eating is not just about appeasing your taste buds, but satisfying the communication it sends to the brain. There are roughly 8,000 taste buds on your tongue that scientists are now discovering sense not just sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, but also umami (savory, or flavorful), Kokumi (“mouthfulness” or “heartiness”) and they sense fat. These give satisfaction on a very deep level. It is theorized that one of the main reasons why when we stop eating fat, obesity increases. According to Linda Bartoshuk, a physiological psychologist at the University of Florida “Eating fat is encouraged by our brains to have us survive.” Fat is the preferred source of energy and that is probably why we have fat receptors.
Our taste buds also sense touch (crunchy, smooth), spicy hot (peppers), cool (peppermint), temperature (hot or cold), metallicity, calcium and other minerals and protein. Each taste bud senses all these, and probably more. We are realizing that our tongue is quite intelligent. What a disservice we do when we just chunk our food down!
Think about it: we eat in a hurry. Rarely do we sit and have a relaxing meal anymore. As a result, we jip our tongues out of providing vital information to our brain. The brain, when it receives this information makes many decisions with these communications that enhances our health or functioning.
©2016 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
Medical/Health Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this article. Readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the author, but readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries.
