Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system

June 12, 2015

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system: The Digestive System Explained

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system can be corrected by the applications of preventive measures of alcoholism

Alcohol consumption when abused can become one of the most dangerous substances that can cause serious health complication to the body. Even though it is said that the use of alcohol can be beneficial to the body, this fact is betrayed by the fact that this substance is very addictive and the minimum level of usage is often very difficult to attain. Moreover the said benefits are very insignificant when compared to the demerits of alcohol. For that reason we want to explore some of the effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system with a view of understanding the possible corrective measures that we can take to salvage the problem. When we talk of the benefits, it is often eluded to the moderate consumption of alcohol. Users of alcohol will tell you that when taken in moderation, it can make life a bit more enjoyable for some people. These people will tell you that it allows them to socialize more easily, and also cause them to relax after a hard day’s work. However what may not be clear to these users is that there is a dark side to alcohol consumption, and this will soon become apparent when individuals drink beyond the estimated limit. The consequences of this can lead to all sorts of physical and mental health problems. Therefore if people become addicted to alcohol it can completely destroy their life.

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system: Organs of the digestive system

Before we get to understand how alcohol addiction affects the digestive system, it is important to appreciate that people need to consume food in order to survive, to be strong and healthy. Besides that, it is also not only needed for fuel but the body also uses elements of this nutrition for repair of the body. Now the digestive system is a group of organs in the body that are tasked with the role of removing all the needed nutrients from any food that is eaten. In other words, in order for people to live life to the fullest they need to have a fully functional digestive system. These digestive systems are made up of several different organs including the following:

The mouth is where digestion begins. The food that is eaten will be partly broken down by chewing so as to make it easier to digest. At this point, the saliva can begin to break down some chemicals in food.
Food is then transferred to the stomach by the esophagus.
The stomach contains a strong acid that helps to break down food. The churning motion of the stomach turns food into a sludge-like substance called chime.
The liver produces bile which is stored in the gallbladder.
The pancreas produces enzymes that are also required for digestion.
The small intestine is where bile and enzymes help to extract the nutrients from the food.
The large intestine contains microbes that assist in breaking down food. In this organ electrolytes and water is extracted from the chime.
Anything in the food that is not of use to the body ends up in the rectum where it is expelled as feces and that is the process of digestion which can be literally destroyed by the abuse of alcohol.

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system: Digestive System Problems Caused by Alcohol Abuse

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, alcohol abuse can cause havoc in every organ of the digestive system listed above. Doctor Dalal Akoury shares with us some of the most common problems that are likely to come as a result of the abuse of this substance:

Alcohol increases the risk that people will develop mouth cancer remember that alcohol comes in second besides tobacco smoking to this effect. However it can also cause some people to develop gum disease.
Heartburn is frequently caused by excessive alcohol intake. It does this by relaxing the sphincter that is there to control the acidic contents of the stomach from passing into the esophagus. If this fluid makes it past the sphincter it can be highly irritating to the esophagus, and this is what causes heartburn.
Alcohol abuse can damage the lining of the stomach. This can lead to problems including inflammation of the stomach gastritis.
Alcohol may increase the risk of people developing stomach cancer, but there is no conclusive proof of this.
Alcohol abuse can increase the risk of people developing small intestine cancers.
It can cause mal-absorption so that the individual is not absorbing all the nutrients from food they need.
It may cause leaky gut syndrome where unwanted toxins are able to leak through the intestine into the rest of the body. These toxins then cause problems and lead to ill-health.
It can exacerbate irritable bowel syndrome
Alcohol can cause both diarrhea and constipation
Excessive alcohol intake can lead to an inflammation of the pancreas. This is known as pancreatitis and it can lead to life-threatening complications. It can also interfere with the ability of the digestive system to function effectively.
The effect of alcohol on the liver is well documented. If people are drinking excessively they can start to develop the early stages of alcoholic liver disease. If this progresses to cirrhosis then the damage will be so severe that this organ is unable to function properly. Not only is the liver vital for digestion, but it is also necessary for other important functions as well.

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system: Alcoholism and Malnutrition

Researchers have established that many alcoholics fail to get adequate nutrition, and this leads to serious health consequences. The consequences of this could develop problems like alcoholic dementia and peripheral neuropathy because of nutritional deficiencies. The reason why this occurs is that alcohol contains empty calories while offering little nutritional value. This means that people do not feel hungry. Alcoholism also causes people to lose interest in food, and the impact of alcohol on the digestion of food can lead to mal-absorption when they do eat. This is why chronic alcoholics will usually suffer from poor health because of malnutrition. Finally the notion of moderate drinking has not worked for many owing to the addictiveness of alcohol. It is therefore advisable to quit alcohol altogether for your digestive system to be healthy and effective. Meanwhile if you are struggling with alcohol, then you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury to get professional help and treatment to correct any damage that may have been caused by the abuse of alcohol.

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system: The Digestive System Explained

A good blend of Probiotics and Prebiotic could help you lose and be sexy this summer

February 19, 2014

A good blend of Probiotics and Prebiotic could help you lose and be sexy this summer- Did You Know?

Probiotics

Probiotics are generally safe for children; however you should speak with your pediatrician before giving them to your kids

They are live bacteria in yogurt, other dairy products and pills. Even though probiotics have shown effectiveness in managing certain gastrointestinal conditions, they do not have the same power that prebiotics do. They’re delicate, heat and stomach acid can easily kill them rendering them ineffective even before they are digested. Again, those who don’t eat dairy foods for taste or dietary reasons may find ingesting adequate amounts of probiotics difficult, if not impossible.

What is a prebiotic?

Prebiotic is a specialized plant fiber that beneficially nourishes the good bacteria already in the large bowel or colon. The body itself does not digest these plant fibers; instead, the fibers act as a fertilizer to promote the growth of many of the good bacteria in the gut. These, in turn, provide many digestive and general health benefits.

Probiotics and Children

Probiotics are generally safe for children; however you should speak with your pediatrician before giving them to your kids. They may be beneficial for digestive complaints and diarrhea, but research hasn’t clearly indicated any benefits beyond that.

Kara a researcher says probiotics are live microorganisms found within particular foods that help promote good gut health. Consuming probiotics is thought to increase the “good” bacteria within your gut and assist in maintaining an optimal balance between the good and the bad bacteria that are present.”

Several studies have been carried out and according one published in Bravo 2011, it states that mice that were fed on a particular strain of probiotics showed significantly fewer stress levels, anxiety and depression-related behaviors than those who were not given any probiotics. Besides, they also had lower levels of the stress induced hormone corticosterone.

If you want to lower stress and boost your gut health, with probiotics, then you need to try foods rich in probiotics like yoghurt with live active cultures, kefir (which is often found commercially as a yoghurt style drink), buttermilk, some blue and aged cheeses, as well as non-dairy products such as fermented foods i.e., sauerkraut (fermented cabbage), kimchi (Korean spicy cabbage), tempeh (a fermented soybean product), miso and soy sauce.

The process of manufacturing the food can kill the probiotics strains, which help in improving your gut health, thus, it is important to look out for words like “live” “active” “raw” “unheated” or “unpasteurized”, if you are planning to buy commercial brands from the market.

If you don’t like market products, you can make your own gut boosting products at home yourself, by utilizing simple processes.

On the other hand, Prebiotics are non-digestible, or selectively digestible, carbohydrates that fuel the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut. For this reason, consuming both, foods rich in probiotics, as well as those rich in prebiotics, can be beneficial to your gut health.

Many prebiotics are soluble fibers that are fermented by the bacteria in your gut to produce short chain, fatty acids, which have a range of beneficial effects on your body. These short chain fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation and play a role in digestive health and reduce the incidence of bowel cancer.

Prebiotics have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, slow glucose absorption, and thereby aid with blood glucose control. They can also improve blood lipid (fat) profiles by increasing HDL, your healthy (heart protective) cholesterol, and reduce LDL, your bad cholesterol, and triglycerides (Cani & Delzenne, 2009).

Who needs extra prebiotics and probiotics?
Antibiotics work well at killing off the bad bacteria that make us ill, but they also kill off good bacteria needed for digestion: acidophilus and bifidus, which are both types of probiotics. If you have taken antibiotics in the past, or will need to take them in the future, be sure to supplement with probiotic supplements that contain acidophilus. Other medications, such as the birth control pill and cortisone (used to treat inflammation), may affect gut bacterial balance. In women, recurrent yeast infections may be an indication that the healthy bacterial balance in the large intestine has become compromised.

Supplementing the diet with beneficial bacteria like probiotics and prebiotics stimulates immunity through increased activity of cells (macrophages) that consume invading organisms, as well as through increased production of other white blood cells and cytokines — this could lead to stronger resistance to bacterial and viral infections. In fact, studies have also shown that children attending daycare catch fewer colds and the flu if they are given probiotic supplements containing acidophilus, bifidus or both. Adults have been found to experience the same beneficial effect on immune system function. With benefits ranging from reduced cholesterol and inflammation to improved digestion and weight loss, the right type of bacteria should be a staple in your supplement cupboard (or in this case, fridge).

Getting the healthy bacteria your body needs

Yogurt naturally contains probiotics, but supplements may be more effective if you are looking for a concentrated source. Some prebiotics are naturally found in foods like chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, onions, asparagus, garlic, bananas, barley, wheat, rye, and tomatoes.

Probiotic supplements should be refrigerated to maintain the viability of the microorganisms, in the same way yogurt, milk and other refrigerated cultures need to be stored. Without proper storage, probiotic supplements may spoil and or lose potency.

Suggestion for those who have trouble digesting some probiotics and prebiotics:

Purchase a coconut milk kefir product to get your probiotics in without the lactose.
Consume a small amount of Greek yoghurt (which typically has most of the lactose pre-digested anyway) but don’t consume it along with other foods.

A good blend of Probiotics and Prebiotic could help you lose and be sexy this summer- Did You Know?

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