GUT HEALTH CENTER
HCL
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
BILE ACIDS
BETAINE HCL, DIGESTIVE ENZYMES, BILE ACIDS
The gut garden tools
These tools help help to ensure that the gut garden is healthy and well maintained.
WHAT IS HCL?
HCL, also known as betaine HCL, is hydrcholoric acid. It is found in the stomach and is secreted by parietal cells. It helps the body to break down, digest, and absorb nutrients, especially protein. It also helps to protect your body from infections and pathogens in food.
WHAT ARE DIGESTIVE ENZYMES?
Digestive enzymes are proteins that help to break down the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates you eat into smaller size molecules that are easier to absorb.
They are produced in the salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, and small intestines.
There are three main types of digestive enzymes.
Amylases break down starches and carbohydrates into sugarrs.
Proteases break down proteins into amino acids.
Lipases break down fats into glycerol and fatty acids.
WHAT ARE BILE ACIDS?
Bile acids help to support the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine as well as support cholesterol balance. They also function as hormones and help to regulate various processes.
Bile acids are produced by the liver
and stored in the gallbladder until it is needed by the body.
Secondary bile salts are produced in small amounts as a result of some intestinal bacterial actions.
CHEW YOUR FOOD
One of the most important tools for your gut garden is properly chewing your food.
Digestion begins in the mouth when your salivary glands produce amalyases to digest carbohydrates. This process also starts to stimulate the release of various digestive secretions.
If you do not chew your food well, you will not digest your food well.
Eat while sitting down and chew your food slowly and thoroughly.
FOODS RICH IN GUT GARDEN TOOLS
There are many foods rich in gut garden tools. These foods are best eaten with meals, starting with the first bite of food.
PINEAPPLE
Pineapple is rich in a group of enzymes called bromelain. The stem and core are especially rich.
You want fresh pineapple, canned pineapple and bottled pineapple juice are going to have little to none of the enzyme.
Bromelain helps to digest proteins, especially the collagens in meat, which is why it is popular as a meat tenderizer.
PAPAYA
Papaya is rich in the enzymes papain and chymopapain. These enzymes help to break down proteins and are also popular as a meat tenderizer.
These enzymes are only present in the unripe fruit, as the fruit ripens the amount of the enzymes decrease greatly.
Canned papaya and bottled papaya juices will not have these enzymes.
AVOCADO
Avocados are rich in lipases, which help to break down fats.
If you have trouble eating fat rich foods, try having some avocado with them.
BANANA
Bananas are rich in amylase and maltase. Amylase helps to break down starches and carbohydrates while maltase helps to break down the malt sugars found in starchy foods.
MANGO
Mangos are rich in amylase which helps to break down starches and carbohydrates.
GRASS-FED KEFIR
Not only is kefir rich in probiotics, but it also contains lipase to break down fats, lactase to break down the milk sugar lactose, proteases to digest proteins.
A true multitasking gut garden tool!
GINGER
Ginger is rich in the enzyme zingibain which helps to digest proteins.
It also is thought to help increase the bodies own production of digestive enzymes.
LACTO-FERMENTED SAUERKRAUT
In addition to being a great source of prebiotics, sauerkraut is rich in a variety of digestive enzymes.
A couple of tablespoons eaten with a meal is a great way to improve the digestive process.
GRASS-FED PANCREAS
Pancreas is the most potent enzyme rich food.
It is often served as a sweetbread and has a rich creamy taste.
It contains very high amounts of proteases, amylases, and lipases.
This food can be hard to find, but here is a great source.
