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Submitted by: Heather M.
Q: I have bloating after
almost every meal. Do you have any recommendations?
A: Gastrointestinal
health is fundamental to all functions of the human body.
In my experience, there are few illnesses that cannot be traced
back to digestion, absorption, assimilation, and elimination.
An interesting study found that during a 3-month period of
time nearly 70% of American households experience one or more
gastrointestinal symptoms. Bloating is one of the many symptoms
associated with imbalances in the gastrointestinal system.
One of the main causes of gas and bloating is hypochlorhydria
(low stomach acid). Ironically, many people take antacids
for these symptoms. Unfortunately, they are blocking what
little stomach acid production they have left. Other symptoms
of low gastric acidity include:
- Bloating, belching, burning and flatulence immediately after meals
- Upper digestive tract gassiness
- Sense of fullness after easing
- Indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation
- Systemic reactions after eating
- Nausea after taking supplements
- Itching around the rectum
- Weak, peeling, or cracked fingernails
- Dilated capillaries in cheeks and nose
- Acne
- Iron deficiency
- Chronic intestinal infections (parasites, yeast, bacteria)
- Undigested food in stool
- Multiple food allergies
Furthermore, pancreatic insuffiency, which is often associated
with low stomach acid, is characterized by impaired digestion,
malabsorption, nutrient deficiences, and abdominal discomfort.
While starch and fat can be adequately digested without the
help of pancreatic enzymes, the proteases (pancreatic protein
enzymes), are critical to proper protein digestion. Another
common cause of bloating is excessive consumption of refined
carbohydrates. As a side note, in addition to many problems
caused by incomplete digestion of proteins, food allergies
is a common and often over-looked sequela of pancreatic enzyme
insufficiency. When proteins are not broken down properly,
this large molecule is seen by the body as a foreign substance
and mounts an attack by setting off the alarm and releasing
an army of inflammatory intermediates and immunoglobulins
causing many of the symptoms of food allegies, such as:
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Fluid retention
- Gas
- Chronic bladder infections
- Abdominal Pain
- Constipation
- Gastritis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Ulcers
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Celiac disease
- Weight Gain
- Joint Pain
- Low Back Pain
- Bursitis
- Autoimmune symptoms
- Headaches/Migraine's
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Depression
Incomplete protein digestion is what leads to gas, bloating,
and in some people, heartburn and indigestion. This develops
because proteins remain in the intestines and cause putrefaction.
Putrefaction results is dysbiosis (bacterial overgrowth) causing
gas and bloating. Acid secretion decreases with age, and low
stomach acidity is found in more than half of patients over
age 60. Hypochlorhydria has also been linked to the overgrowth
of the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori. H. Pylori has been shown
to test positive in 90-100% of patients with ulcers, and 50%
of people over the age of 50. Low levels of Vitamin C, Vitamin
E, and other antioxidant factors in gastric juice appear to
encourage progression of H. Pylori colonization. Many nutrients
(Vitamin B12, Iron, other minerals) enter the body from foods
on a protein carrier. If that protein/nutrient bond is not
cleaved by gastric acid and pancreatic enzymes, those nutrients
are unlikely to be absorbed. Researchers speculate that malabsorption
of nutrients in the elderly is due to atrophy of various digestive
organs because of hypochlorhydria. Western medicine often
sees health as black and white ¹ you either have health or
you have a disease, and there is not a whole lot in between.
In my experience there is a lot of gray in between health
and disease. Bloating and other seemingly benign symptoms
are in the gray zones and may be an early sign of worse things
to come. To drive this idea home, review the list of diseases
that have been linked to low gastric acidity.
- Addison’s disease
- Asthma
- Celiac disease
- Chronic autoimmune disorders
- Dermatitis herpetformis
- Constipation
- Diabetes mellitus
- Eczema
- Food allergies
- Gallbladder disease
- Gastric carcinoma
- Gastritis
- Grave’s disease
- Hepatitis
- Lupus erythematosus
- Osteoporosis
- Pernicious anemia
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Depression
If you think I am trying to scare you, you are right. I am
trying to scare you into becoming aware of your body and listen
to what it is telling you. I consider gastrointestinal symptoms
very seriously and so should you. As usual, I recommend an
individualized
consultation because as you can see the web can get fairly
complex and all of our webs are different.
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Dr. Chad Larson
Consider the following:
