Poor Digestion: What are the Causes and Consequences? GI Part 3

Poor digestion and absorption of the nutrients from food or supplements can lead to a range of health issues.  Some of these consequences result in gastrointestinal (GI) related symptoms, while others result in chronic signs and symptoms which are frequently missed since many nutrient deficiencies often go undiagnosed. 

Therefore, it is important to understand the primary ways in which poor digestion and absorption can affect GI health.  The first is simply the decreased absorption of needed nutrients into the body, reducing the availability of these nutrients within tissues.  While we frequently attribute this to poor food selection, it is also true that poor digestion can make nutrients from food unavailable to individuals, even when they are included in the diet (for example, vitamin B12 malabsorption in the elderly).  The second way poor digestion and absorption can affect health is by allowing unprocessed food particles to be improperly utilized by gut microbes, or by triggering an immune response.  This can lead to symptoms generally experienced as GI-related discomfort after eating (gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, burping, stomach pain, etc.) or even immune responses throughout the body.  Long term consequences can lead to auto-immune disorders. When these are severe enough, the effects can lead to changes in the balance of the gut microbiome (known as dysbiosis) or in bowel transit time, both of which can further alter nutrient absorption.

Poor digestion or absorption can be rooted in a variety of causes, many of which can be corrected with lifestyle or nutrient interventions.

Since digestion and absorption are at the root of so many health conditions it is the logical place to start when trying to identify the root cause of poor health.  If you would like to learn more about identifying and correcting GI issues related to digestion and absorption, I encourage you to sign up for our upcoming educational program by contacting us at customercare@vitopiahealth.com.

Some of the many topics covered include:

• GERD
• Enzyme Replacement Therapy
• Elimination and Detoxification
• Microbial Balance (Dysbiosis)
• Supporting the Gut Barrier (Leaky Gut)
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (Crohn's, UC, IBD)
• IBS
• SIBO
• Candida
• The Autoimmune Connection

Vitopia Health is dedicated to providing educational content to help patients understand and make informed decisions about their health and treatment options including conventional, alternative, nutritional and lifestyle choices. Start your journey to better health! Sign up for our Free Healing Help program and receive information about gut health direct to your inbox.

To Your Health!

Mike Woodley, R.Ph., FAARM, ABAAHP

President/CEO

Vitopia Health