The mechanical breakdown of your meal begins when your teeth grind food. Saliva triggers the start of the chemical breakdown. Once food travels to your stomach, you need adequate amounts of hydrochloric acid to break up dietary proteins. You may be among the millions of Americans who do not produce enough hydrochloric acid. This can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, osteoporosis, hardening of the arteries, arthritis, colon cancer, food allergies and autoimmune disease.
Pancreatic enzymes play an important role in the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
An insufficient amount of pancreatic enzymes can contribute to many of the same problems as inadequate stomach acid. Nutrients in your food are absorbed into your bloodstream from both the small and large intestine. Unfortunately, many common activities can destroy the delicate balance of bacteria. Chronic infection, food allergies or inadequate nutrition can result in poor immune defenses in your intestine. For proper gastrointestinal health, your body must carefully coordinate the breakdown, absorption and elimination of food.