Defective Food Analysis. Auto-Intoxication

We have seen that the passage of the food through the body means a gradual reduction from a complex to a simple state. That this reduction should go on in a normal way and at a normal rate is all important. Certain conditions, chiefly dietetic errors, result in great interference with these processes, both while the food is still in the digestive tract and after absorption when it has been taken up by the blood and tissues. The first - slow and imperfect digestion; the second - faulty and incomplete metabolism.

The first and most common defect in food analysis is in the process of mastication. Carelessness in regard to this most important initial process lies at the foundation of much of the imperfect digestion in the lower alimentary tract.

As the result of imperfect disintegration in the mouth food substances are hurried into the stomach faster and in larger amounts than they can properly be received and cared for. Food received by the stomach in normal, well masticated portions, already in a semi-liquid state, begins at once to leave the stomach, the amount taken in continually bearing such a relation to that passing out that at no time is the organ over distended and thus handicapped in its muscular movement.*

*X-ray study has shown that the liquid portion of the food begins at once to leave the stomach, the more solid portions remaining for further digestion. As the acid contents of the stomach rush through the pylorus (the outlet of the stomach) into the first part of the small intestine, or duodenum, the pylorus closes, the bile and the pancreatic juice flow through a common opening into the duodenum neutralizing by their alkalinity the acidity of the food material from the stomach. As the contents of the duodenum become neutral or alkaline the pylorus relaxes and more of the gradually liquifying food, or chyme, passes out of the stomach. Again the reflex effect of the acid fluid on the duodenal mucous membrane causes a contraction of the pyloric sphincter and the stomach outlet is closed, the same alternating process to be continued until stomach digestion is complete and the organ is at rest. The length of time required depends upon the amount, kinds, and combination of food taken into the stomach and varies normally from two to six hours.

An Unsightly Spectacle

But the rapid introduction into it of improperly prepared material at once tends to overwhelm the stomach and would, could it be seen, produce as unsightly a spectacle as the crowding of the mouth so full of food that mastication be made awkward and almost impossible. This food not having been properly reduced before swallowing, requires an excessive amount of churning by the stomach wall which is already handicapped by over distention.

Incomplete mastication means hurried eating. Hurried eating leads to overeating because the introduction of food has been so rapid that the nerve impulses have not had time to return with their message "enough", and thus by the time the sensation of hunger has disappeared an excess of food has been taken. Everyone knows how, if called away from a hurried meal, appetite perhaps still keen, he may return later only to find himself satisfied with the food already taken. The nerve impulses of satiety take a little time to report, hence the advantage of slow eating. If one must eat hurriedly his only safety lies in eating within safe limits as to the amount, and stopping his meal while yet the appetite may call for more.

Indigestible food substances, wrong combinations, eating at too frequent intervals, all play their part in causing slow and difficult digestion and thus hindering the normal passage of the food through the alimentary tract.

Three Results Of Delay

Stagnation in the stomach or intestine, whatever the cause, means one or all of three abnormal processes. Food must be properly digested and absorbed or carbohydrates will ferment, protein will putrify, fats will become rancid. These processes take place in the digestive canal as quickly as outside of it and often sooner because the conditions of temperature and moisture are ideal for germ growth.

Germs At Work

In the stomach, because of the presence of the germicidal hydrochloric acid, germ activity is hindered and under normal conditions made impossible. But under the conditions mentioned above fermentation often takes place resulting in "sour stomach", gas formation, and a general bad state of affairs.

Self Poisoning

In the intestine, the food having been longer on the way and the secretions being alkaline instead of acid, germ activity goes on to a great extent. Under normal conditions this may even assist in the dissolution of the food, but very quickly under conditions of slow digestion and retention food decomposition becomes abnormal, fermentation and putrefaction are set up, resulting in the formation of gases and irritating substances that greatly interfere with peristalsis and with the completion of digestion. The amino-acids, instead of being allowed to pass unhindered through the mucous membrane into the blood, are broken down by the germs into decomposition products. Poisons are formed which being absorbed often overwhelm the liver, get by into the blood stream, and slowly but surely intoxicate the individual. As the result of carbohydrate fermentation alcohol and kindred products may be formed, the absorption of which may produce symptoms of chronic alcoholism in the total abstainer. The absorption of the products of protein putrefaction, becoming excessive and acute, spells "bilious attacks" or perhaps "ptomain poisoning," but oftener in a chronic way these poisons gradually do their work causing abnormal fatigue, lowered nerve tone, irritable nerves, headaches, sallow skin, lowered vitality, and functional disturbances of any or all of the organs.

A Reckoning Time

Thus in this great preparation chamber there may be prepared for absorption, poisons as well as food. The food itself being incompletely digested, much of it may not be absorbed and so may never reach its destination. The cells instead of receiving their needed nourishments are handicapped by poisons and their activity is enfeebled. This condition of poisoning from one's own digestive tract is known as "auto intoxication," or self poisoning and is widespread, lying at the foundation of many of the ailments and diseases that beset the civilized race. With those who are naturally robust it may seem that the limit of work imposed upon the stomach and intestine need only be determined by the appetite and inclination of the individual. But be the digestive organs ever so strong, what with the ingestion of incompletely masticated food in unlimited kind, variety, and amount, perhaps improperly prepared or in combination with substances difficult of digestion, there will come a time when these faithful organs will be unable to do the work given them to do, even though the amount of work be decreased to normal limits. And often long before symptoms directly referable to the digestive tract manifest themselves, the amount of putrefaction may have reached the stage where the vitality is greatly lowered, signs of toxemia appear, and gradually but surely the health and efficiency of the individual is undermined.

There are many who, having a smaller amount of inherent strength in the digestive organs, feel sooner the results of the conventional careless habits of eating. Not realizing the cause of their earlier symptoms they continue in their dietetic mistakes until a radical program which admits to the alimentary canal only the simplest and most easily digested food is necessary to give the organs of alimentation the opportunity to catch up as it were, and to lay in a store of reserve strength that they may perchance at some future time be able to carry on a normal amount of work.

A Type

This type of person is sometimes spoken of as the autointoxication type and he is found in all stages and in all grades. Under this head comes the one who eats but grows thinner and wonders why; the one who suffers from the occasional bilious attack and certain type of sick headache; the nervously exhausted individual with aches too numerous to mention and symptoms as varied as temperament and susceptibility may differ; the dyspeptic, sallow, thin, despondent, suffering from indigestion, gastric distress, constipation and "gas", the digestive organs unequal to their task accomplishing the little they do by much coaxing, the tenderest of care, and artificial aid.

Anemias

The cause of anemias and serious organic disorders of the nervous system is coming more and more to be considered referable to excessive putrefaction in the intestine, with a slow absorption of poisons.

And thus we have a picture of some of the various conditions often resulting when the first steps in body food analysis or reduction are not carried on properly. No one can estimate the reserve strength of his digestive organs. Often the one who early has evidence of a weak digestion is the one fortunate because he is of necessity led to careful dietetic habits. And therefore it were well could all adopt a sensible, sane plan of eating, following natural law, eating for strength and not for drunkenness, wisely selecting and preparing their food, and partaking of it in such a way as to assist instead of hinder nature in her efforts to utilize it to the best advantage.

'"Is life worth living? It all depends on the liver".