There is no Health without a Healthy Duodenum and Intestines

How well our digestion works directly determines how well our body and brain function. The old adage "we are what we eat" appears to hold true.

At the center of it all is the duodenum. The duodenum is the initial section of the small intestines. It controls many aspects of food passage (stomach) and absorption (small intestines) and holds the keys to the most important control mechanisms of our living body biochemistry.

A duodenum that is healthy and functions properly governs multiple actions and functions of stomach, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. Moreover, the duodenum directly affects much of our life-supporting nutrient absorption (including all-important calcium).

A duodenum that is inflamed no longer can fulfill these central control functions. Damage to the duodenum most often is induced by allergenic and inflammatory foods: sugars and alcohols, wheat (gliadin and other grain gluten proteins), and many other food allergens.

Inflammation throughout the intestines affects the intestinal mucous lining. This is the very tissue that hosts the majority of our body’s lymph and immune system cells. They affect the body’s nutrient and mineral absorption, auto-immune defense capability, toxin drainage ability, pH balance and anti-parasitic properties, defense from non-communicable and communicable diseases.

Increasingly, research identifies strong links to underlying non-celiac and/or celiac gluten sensitivity. Other signs of compromised duodenal activity are: chronic or acute inflammation, bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea, dysbiosis (leaky gut syndrome), as well as the diagnoses of mineral deficiencies or imbalances, such as anemia, hypocalcemia, and conditions such as lazy stomach, liver and gallbladder inflammation, pancreatitis, irritable bowel (IBS, IBD), Crohn’s, other gastrointestinal conditions, even elevated cholesterol levels, anxiety, neurological disorders, and more (see chart).

The Duodenum's Multi-Tasking

Following are a few of the many functional and biochemical tasks that a healthy and properly functioning duodenum is designed to complete.

Control of…

• how much and how often food is released from the stomach for further digestion and absorption in the intestines (feelings of fullness or hunger).
• bile release from the gallbladder and several other digestion-related liver functions (gallbladder and liver disorders[1]).
• enzyme release from the pancreas (pancreatitis,[2] leaky gut syndrome).

Role in the...

• control of insulin production (link between non-celiac and/or celiac gluten sensitivity and insulin dependent diabetes).[3]

• iron[4] absorption (anemia, villus enterocytes).[5]
• gastrointestinal circadian rhythm shifts.[6]

Absorption of...

• calcium (calcium-magnesium imbalance, calcium phosphorus ratio imbalances, blood and tissue pH control failures).[7]
• many other minerals and nutrients[8] (deficiencies).

Production of...

• vitamin K (which then is stored in the pancreas and is responsible for calcium to remain in the bones and being kept out of the arteries!!).[9]

Attachment to the...

• diaphragm via the ligament of Treitz,[10] (possibly leading to signs of shortness of breath, GERDs,[11] heartburn, tiredness, restless or light sleep, anxiety, etc.).
• anterior lumbar spine (affects iliosacral alignment, sciatica, muscle weakness, ataxia, unstable gate).

Latter has lead to recommendations to osteopaths, chiropractors, body workers and their patients to look for underlying celiac disease seen in an inflamed, bloated gut, overall puffiness and fluid retention whenever low back,[12] sacroiliitis,[13] and pelvic alignments "don’t hold" after repeat treatments.

Telling Intestinal Inflammation

A bloated tummy indicates intestinal inflammation. But, how do you tell?

Lie down flat on your back on a firm surface:

• If you feel a bulge or tightness indicating the proverbial "beer-belly" or "spare tire" above the belly button: think insulin resistance: pancreas, liver and duodenum inflammation.
• If you are able to jiggle your tummy below the belly button or experience bloating or gas on a fairly regular basis: think intestinal inflammation, leaky gut syndrome or other gastro-intestinal disorders such as underlying non-celiac and celiac gluten sensitivity.

Inflammation is the source of most aging disorders. Inflammation anywhere in the body causes an acidic environment and triggers the calcium buffering mechanism: calcium is forced to leech from bones and teeth into the blood stream in order to balance the pH value and "dowse" the inflammation.

Leeched (free) calcium plays a major role in bone loss (osteoporosis), various forms of subsequent calcium build-up (arthritic changes[14]), heart disease (hardened arteries, high blood pressure / hypertension), GERD’s (gastric reflux symptoms[15]), brain fog, vision issues,[16] fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and many other conditions.

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