EXCELLENT info on what makes good digestion

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This is from facebook and priceless!!! Mb can get mysterious and so often we don't know what are the issues we need to look at. This article simplifies and explains the main issue of digestion so clearly. Hope it's of benefit to everyone.

I included one of the comments as I also think sometimes things can get just way too complicated.

Klara

The 7 Stages of Digestion

by Macrobiotic Ccms on Sunday, September 5, 2010 at 9:56am

Digestion Proceeds Through 7 Steps that Alternate, Yin to Yang, Yang to Yin.

To proceed effectively and thoroughly, each step must be sufficiently Yin or Yang to proceed by attraction of opposites to the next step. If a step is not polarized sufficiently, incomplete digestion occurs, and consequently, malnourishment can occur, even if we are taking the most nutritious food. Therefore, each step must be accomplished fully.

1) Digestion Begins with thorough Cooking

Cooking breaks down food and makes it more digestible. Therefore, cooking is a form of digestion. Whatever is not cooked must be broken down by thorough chewing and/or by the digestive tract. Most food is slightly acidic after being cooked.

2) Digestion Continues in the Mouth via Thorough Chewing

By thorough chewing we stimulate the production of ptyalin, an alkaline enzyme in the saliva that begins digestion of complex carbohydrates, such as those present in whole grains. This first step is so important, because, it triggers off the rest of the steps and if incompletely done, negatively affects the following steps. If we don't chew well, food can remain acidic and contribute to hyperacidity throughout our bodies. So Yin food (acidic), by thorough chewing, becomes Yang (alkaline). many people today are so acidic, their saliva is also acidic. These people cannot digest complex carbohydrates very well. In this case they are advised to eat whole grains with umeboshi (Japanese pickled sour plums), or eat millet and quinoa, grains which are less acidic, and leafy greens with root vegetables like carrots, which are alkaline.

3) Digestion in the Stomach

The stomach contains hydrochloric acid, which begins digestion of proteins. If our food is slightly alkaline from being thoroughly chewed and mixed with the enzyme ptyalin that is present in healthy saliva, the stomach does not become excessively acidic. However, due to incomplete chewing, or consumption of too much acidic food and beverages, as well as hyper-acidity due to stress, worry or tension, the stomach easily becomes overly acidic. Overly acid stomach is a widespread problem among many people in today’s fast-paced world as evidenced by the huge popularity of anti-acids and acid-blocker drugs. These drugs do not cure the problem; they simply address the symptoms temporarily without helping the underlying problem. The only natural solution is to restore the body’s natural acid-alkaline balances by eating properly and chewing food thoroughly. Heartburn is caused by the overly acid stomach contents opening

the upper stomach sphincter (circular muscles) due to the expansive effect of the acid. This stomach acid irritates (“burnsâ€) the lining of the esophagus. If not stopped, this can lead to hiatal hernia or esophageal cancer, as well as stomach ulcers and cancer.

In the stomach pepsin, an enzyme that digests protein, as well as hydrochloric acid, are secreted by special glands to help break down proteins. Digestion of carbohydrate stops since carbohydrates cannot be digested in acidic conditions, but require alkaline enzymes.

In the stomach, when the food becomes sufficiently acidic (Yin), the acidified food expands (opens) the pyloric sphincter that normally stops food from entering the small intestine, and is evacuated into the pylorus, the curved area that leads from the stomach into the small intestine. If the food from the stomach is excessively acidic, it can ulcerate the pylorus, as well as cause pyloric cancer if left unaddressed.

4) Digestion in the Small Intestine

In the small intestine, the alkaline digestive enzyme amylase produced by the pancreas is introduced to further digest carbohydrates, as well as peptidase, which digests proteins. If food is not chewed thoroughly, food that has not been chewed thoroughly does not get digested, since enzymes can only digest the outer surface of the food pieces. Undigested carbohydrates and proteins may then ferment, causing bloating, cramps and gas.

5) Digestion in the Middle part of the Small Intestine

If food is too acidic, it can acidify the blood. Blood should be alkaline so that it can attract and absorb food monera (very small particles). The central area of the small intestine is where if acid-alkaline are not balanced properly, food is not absorbed properly, and the body is not nourished properly and fully. Incomplete assimilation of food eaten leads to fatigue, weakness and decline in general state of health over time. So eating balanced meals and chewing thoroughly is critical to restoring and maintaining health.

6) Digestion in the Large Intestine

Finally, what remains of unassimilated food passes into the large intestine, where water is removed and bowel movements are produced. If food is too watery or we have been drinking too much water or other liquids, the excess water may make bowel movements too watery. If food is too dry, salty or both, or we don’t drink enough fluids, overly-compacted bowel movements can lead to hard stools that are difficult to evacuate easily. This is why we need to monitor our bowel movements and adjust our food quality, water content, Yin and Yang selections, cooking styles, salt content, etc. to insure that we are consuming what is appropriate and will produce good digestion and smooth, easy bowel evacuation.

7) Bowel Evacuation

Food is finally evacuated, and the results of all our efforts to nourish ourselves properly can be ascertained. Stools should be smooth, uniform and unbroken. That indicates a healthy digestive system. Small hard pieces indicates too Yang, too loose, watery movements indicates too Yin. Buoyant bowel movements are balanced; if they sink, this is too Yang.

Rui Rato Beginning and end, eat and defecate, yin and yang, which dictate what we eat is what comes out, the best way to know what to eat is what comes out, this is the simplest concrete diagnosis and effective Macrobiotic. Minimum of studies and maximum result, but many are to analyze the pulses, the liver, kidneys, nine star ki, and making training to specialists in oriental diagnosis. What a waste of time!!! That worthlessness and lack of precision. The simpler the diagnosis, much more effective. Specialists is very yin, only realizes the parties, not all.That is why many macrobiotic, are concerned about vitamin b12, iron, etc., is because we have not learned to watch what comes out.This this a realy macrobiotic, fantastic! Sensei Fred