STEPS IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Food is taken into the mouth.

Saliva contains some digestive enzymes which start to break down food into small particles.

Good practice is chewing around 20 times.

WHAT CAN GO WRONG

Eating quickly or “on the go” doesn’t allow enough time for enzymes to adequately break down food.

Best practice is to sit down at the table with friends or family in a relaxed atmosphere- this is often difficult with a child on the spectrum, especially the more severe, but try as best you can.

STEPS IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Swallowing pushes the food down the oesophagus or food pipe into the stomach.

 

WHAT CAN GO WRONG!

Difficulty swallowing, particularly large pills (often seen in autism) can be associated with a zinc deficiency.

STEPS IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Stomach: here stomach acid and digestive enzymes from the pancreas further breaks down the macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fats).

WHAT CAN GO WRONG!

When stomach acid, also known as hypochlorhydria, is low, it means that the stomach is too alkaline.

Stomach requires an acidic environment of about 1.6-3.2 PH so it can do its job.

Signs of low acid are:

    • “acid reflux”
    • Indigestion
    • abdominal pain
    • bloating and flatulence (often seen in autism)

STEPS IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Meanwhile the liver makes bile to help digest fats and fat-soluble vitamins.

It is stored in the gall bladder and secreted when necessary into the small intestine

WHAT CAN GO WRONG!

If there is not enough bile, you may see:

    • fatty stools
    • or stools floating in the toilet bowl

If not enough fat is absorbed, there won’t be enough to build cholesterol, which can have dire consequences such as not enough to produce:

    • cortisol (anti-inflammatory)
    • sex hormones
    • as well as lack of support of the nervous system.

To gain an understanding of how to support your digestive health, schedule an appointment with one of our experts:

STEPS IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

 

Small intestine is where food is further broken down and the nutrients and water are transported by carriers across the intestinal wall into the blood stream.

Its surface is HUGE!

WHAT CAN GO WRONG!

 

Problems arise if gut wall is too permeable AKA “leaky gut”.  If food is not properly digested then larger molecules can cross through to the rest of the body and raise the alarm in the immune system as it doesn’t recognise them outside the gut.

The gut wall can be jeopardised by zinc and sulphur deficiency (possibly from poor digestion) as well as candida overgrowth and gluten. Eliminating gluten can often have dramatically positive effects for ASD.

STEPS IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Large Intestine – the remnant fibre and water is pushed into the this area where its function is to absorb water and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, phosphate and bicarbonate) produce its own vitamins and absorb them and then to propel faeces towards the rectum for elimination.

Fibre is fermented here into short-chain fatty acids (acetic, propionic, and butyric acid) which nourish the bowel wall- low levels can lead to colon cancer.

Although good and bad bacteria line most of the gut, the bulk of them reside in the small and large bowels.

WHAT CAN GO WRONG!

The inability to absorb electrolytes can cause:

    • confusion
    • irritability
    • diarrhoea or constipation
    • fatigue
    • headaches
    • irregular or fast heart rate (arrhythmia)
    • muscle cramps
    • muscle spasms or weakness
    • nausea and vomiting,
    • numbness or tingling in limbs, fingers, and toes.
    • It may even lead to coma, seizures, and cardiac arrest.

Good gut bacteria have a profoundly positive effect on the body in terms of physical well-being and mental health so reduction of bad bacteria, which can cause disease states, should be a primary focus. Short-chain fatty acid ratios are altered in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Learn more about the bacteria in your gut and how they influence your mood and behaviour in our blog article:  Your gut and half the local badminton court

Get personalised support to improve your gut health from a nutritionist:

Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any professional organization or guidelines. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your therapist or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.