Poor digestion can affect your spine
Poor digestion can affect your spine
By Mark Lewis, DC
We know the old saying "you are what you eat," but absorption is really the key to health. This process begins in the stomach where hydrochloric acid activates enzymes to break down proteins and helps assimilate minerals (such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, etc.). Our stomach acid also neutralizes unwanted parasites and bacteria that may wreak havoc in our digestive tract if left intact.
Once our stomach completes its necessary task, food proceeds into the intestines, first the small and then the large, for further breakdown and eventual absorption. If our body fails to properly break down and absorb food, then symptoms of nutrient deficiency (fatigue, cravings, obesity, allergies, etc.) or disease may result.
One sign of impaired digestion is gas and bloating after eating, which may be associated with gastric reflux or heart burn. Many medical doctors in the U.S. treat this common condition with antacid medication; also know as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs). Some of the more popular PPIs are Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid and Protonix. These are the third highest selling class of drugs in the U.S.
The problem is that Proton Pump Inhibitors often impair digestion by inhibiting the production of necessary stomach acid and may result in significant health concerns. A recent warning by the FDA indicated "a possible increase risk of fracture of the hip, wrist and spine if you take certain drugs for heartburn, acid reflux or ulcers." Fracture risk increases significantly if the Proton Pump Inhibitors has been taken for more than a year. Another study suggests that PPIs may also be responsible for increased infection by C. difficile, a bacterium that causes severe diarrhea.
I'm concerned about digestion as a chiropractor, because our body will rob our skeleton to obtain crucial minerals. Poor digestion can result in weak bones, bacterial overgrowth and many other health concerns.
At Healthsource, I've helped to naturally improve digestion and spare the bones of many patients. A well-educated chiropractor can do much more than ensure the vertebrae of the spine are aligned; we can help with nutritional and wellness concerns also.
By Mark Lewis, DC
We know the old saying "you are what you eat," but absorption is really the key to health. This process begins in the stomach where hydrochloric acid activates enzymes to break down proteins and helps assimilate minerals (such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, etc.). Our stomach acid also neutralizes unwanted parasites and bacteria that may wreak havoc in our digestive tract if left intact.
Once our stomach completes its necessary task, food proceeds into the intestines, first the small and then the large, for further breakdown and eventual absorption. If our body fails to properly break down and absorb food, then symptoms of nutrient deficiency (fatigue, cravings, obesity, allergies, etc.) or disease may result.
One sign of impaired digestion is gas and bloating after eating, which may be associated with gastric reflux or heart burn. Many medical doctors in the U.S. treat this common condition with antacid medication; also know as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs). Some of the more popular PPIs are Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid and Protonix. These are the third highest selling class of drugs in the U.S.
The problem is that Proton Pump Inhibitors often impair digestion by inhibiting the production of necessary stomach acid and may result in significant health concerns. A recent warning by the FDA indicated "a possible increase risk of fracture of the hip, wrist and spine if you take certain drugs for heartburn, acid reflux or ulcers." Fracture risk increases significantly if the Proton Pump Inhibitors has been taken for more than a year. Another study suggests that PPIs may also be responsible for increased infection by C. difficile, a bacterium that causes severe diarrhea.
I'm concerned about digestion as a chiropractor, because our body will rob our skeleton to obtain crucial minerals. Poor digestion can result in weak bones, bacterial overgrowth and many other health concerns.
At Healthsource, I've helped to naturally improve digestion and spare the bones of many patients. A well-educated chiropractor can do much more than ensure the vertebrae of the spine are aligned; we can help with nutritional and wellness concerns also.
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