The Reason Why Most Americans Have a Problem With Digestion

 So, uh, J. D., I recently read a study about digestive health in the U. S. population, and I was pretty surprised when I saw that about 20 percent of the people here in the U. S. have a digestive illness, and that's excluding the ones that have other issues, like acid reflux, heartburn, or sporadic stool issues. If you add the numbers, the percentage would be even higher, and it's pretty concerning. Yeah, so Dr. Ryan, I think I read somewhere that, uh Digestive system is like a first line defense in terms of our wellbeing, inflammation, gut health, double clicking on that for that. How does it really impact us and your view? Well, I like to think of it like the central hub where everything starts. It's involved in immune function, detoxification, inflammation, eating your moods and thoughts. And when it's out of balance, it can lead to a slew of different issues like allergies, diabetes, even dementia. Yeah. It's a lot riding on that one. Major system, right? Yeah, and let's not forget about the microbiome. Our gut bacteria have a huge say in our weight, energy levels, and overall immunity. It's like an ecosystem in there, and modern life isn't doing it any favors. Okay, so let's start from the top. Basics, and then we go to advanced basics. The brain has a big role, right? In digestion. Yep, that's correct. So the brain kicks to our suggestion even before you take the first bite. When your mouth waters just looking at food, that's your brain getting things moving. And that's why it's so important to eat mindfully and include your brain in the process. Eating mindlessly, like when we're distracted, JD, can really mess up the digestion process. Food manufacturers are aware of this and they tend to exploit it, so Watching TV or gaming while eating at the same time can make you to continue to eat even when you're full, the gut brain link is lost and you don't recognize that your stomach is full and you just keep on eating and eating. Yeah, I heard that, uh, anecdotally, I think it was Huberman that said that some foods that have high amounts of certain types of sugars are more addictive than, you know, heroin or cocaine. So it's almost like we're being like taste wash, right? Yeah, I like that term taste wash. Yeah, the taste wash. That's it. That's a good term. And what it really refers to is that processed food is designed to hook us and indulge her natural taste for real food. And it's a negative cycle that leads us to crave more of what's bad for us and much less of what's good for us. But. You know, beyond just avoiding McDonald's or like the, you know, drive thru menu, how do you, you know, what's your take on breaking the cycle? You can totally break the pattern, the brain, the taste buds can be your program. It's not easy because food can be addictive, but there are some stuff that you can do to, to start the process. The first thing I would do is cut down on junk food. Then I'll eat mindfully and give your brain the chance to really enjoy food again. Make sure you're chewing properly. You want to chew at least 20 to 30 times before you swallow. The process of digestion actually occurs in the oropharynx when you're, when you're chewing your food. So make sure to give yourself some time to start that process there. So the chewing happens in the mouth and means your food should be kind of. Plus or minus 30 percent digested before it goes any further to the esophagus, right? So when it goes to the esophagus, what happens next? And what is the esophagus? So basically it's an eight inch muscular tube that brings liquid and food to the stomach. So most people think that the food just falls down this tube, but it's actually kind of hard work. There's this process called peristalsis in which the esophagus performs rhythmic wave movements, a smooth muscle in the esophagus, it will contract. And with these rhythmic wave movements, it'll kind of. Push the food bowl as it puts the food down into your stomach. And there is a sphincter. There's like a little valve that actually protects it from acid coming to the stomach. When someone experiences heartburn, it's actually acid coming from the stomach to the esophagus. And I know a lot of people have a hard time with stomach acid, but most of them don't have too much stomach acid, but actually the opposite. So isn't it a common misconception though? Right? Like that past reflux means too much acid, right? Yeah. And I was going through medical school. That's what I was thought. But what I found through a functional medicine training is it. Oftentimes it's the opposite. When you utilize medications like antacids and proton pump inhibitors or PPIs that tend to cause more issues like weight gain, this in turn will disrupt our gut bacteria even further. It's a real shame that most people don't know these things because those therapies can be very harmful. Proton pump inhibitors have been linked with Alzheimer's. In many cases, the cause of your reflux is primarily due to the fact that you may not have enough digestive enzymes to help break down your food, so having those in addition to probiotics can really help. And basically, it's the basics, like eating real food. To help your stomach do its job, like simple changes, major difference, right? Okay, so next up is the small intestine, right? So what's going on there, Dr. Ryan? So the small intestine is where absorption of nutrients kicks into high gear, but it needs healthy bile and good bacteria to work efficiently. What exactly are villi, Dr. Ryan? So, villi are tiny structures on the surface of your small intestine that are really key for absorption. They need to be in top shape, and so the way in which we do this is typically by seeding the gut with good bacteria, as well as prebiotics, such as fiber, and cutting down on things that can reduce that level of Good bacteria, such as sugars and processed fats. I heard about this on the podcast, online podcast. You talk about your ecosystem being like an internal rainforest, right? And so like how you need to keep it thriving. Yeah, you got it. So, uh, certain studies have suggested that 70 to 80 percent of the serotonin in your body, which is a very powerful neurotransmitter that affects your mood, is formed in the gut. This is how Your gut bacteria can influence your brain what to eat. If you end up destroying your gut bacteria, the good gut bacteria, bad bacteria, particularly yeast, will start to thrive. Unfortunately, these can cause cravings that can lead you to, uh, eat foods that are high in sugar. high in saturated fats, processed foods. And this in turn will cause you to change your diet, which can lead to a lot more health problems down the road. The digestive system is pretty impressive. It sends more information to the brain and vice versa. A lot of people think of your digestive system as your second brain. And so they're very, very connected. So the next piece, um, you know, the system is the large intestine, right? Right. So large intestine or the colon absorbs much of the water in our diet and moves the waste that's formed after the absorption phase in the small intestine. It's really important to know that a healthy digestive system needs about 12 to 30 hours to digest your food. So keep track of your bowel movements is really key. Anything under 12 or over 30 hours could be an indicator of something wrong. When you think about it, just taking a step back, right? How often do you see clients with digestive issues? Well, um, I see them actually quite frequently, particularly since a lot of my patients adopt the SAD, the standard American diet, which tends to be pretty high in saturated fats, sugars, and many times they do have enough protein, but it's an overabundance of protein. I think bad eating habits are really the biggest issue. Let's rest for a second. Lack of movement and also lack of time to cook or shop for healthy food. And with how busy your schedules are, lack of sleep. Sometimes genetics can play a role. It's pretty complicated. I mean, to be honest, we're pretty sophisticated machines composed of many parts and all the parts needed to be in sync for us to function at an optimal level. Yeah. I like that the system of systems, right? Your body's system of systems and you need to kind of optimize everything to help that get to the next level. So what are some basics and advanced basics with regard to what you recommend for, for people with digestive? Issues. Well, I always do a thorough examination, lab tests, blood work, and have a conversation with the patient and learn their dietary habits, what they do and don't do. Take a pretty holistic approach to treating the individual and not just a particular organ or system. So if you are experiencing digestive symptoms, get yourself checked and start adopting healthier habits. In the meantime, regular sleep, moving more, keeping yourself hydrated, educate yourself on food and nutrition. We actually did a video on that, so feel free to watch it. Well, there you have it guys. So if you're ready to kind of reset your health and nail the basics and advanced basics, change how you age. Jonah's here for some more tips or visit our clinic for a personalized approach, right? And now you can fast track. So until next time, keep your gut happy and your health on track. We'll see you soon.