How is water important for digestion?
Your stomach secretes acid (HCI) to activate enzymes that remove the essential proteins from animal products, like meat and dairy, and to sterilize what ever food enters the stomach. The stomach contents, called chyme are now highly acidic. The chyme will next pass along into the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine. Because the lining of the small intestine is not protected against HCI like the stomach lining is, before chyme enters the duodenum, it must be neutralized. This is where the pancreas steps in. As the chyme becomes ready to pass through the pyloric sphincter, which connects the stomach to the duodenum, the pancreas secretes bicarbonate ions which neutralizes the HCI, making it safe to enter.
Large amounts of water are needed to produce enough bicarbonate ions to neutralize the chyme. If the pancreas cannot locate enough water to do its job, the acidic chyme will not be allowed to move along. It will instead sit inside of the stomach, significantly slowing down the digestive process. The HCI levels will rise as a result, the chyme may begin to reverse direction, and the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) will loosen and HCI as well as small food particles will enter the esophagus. The LES, which connects the stomach to the esophagus is not protected against the HCI, and heartburn is the result.
How does dehydration affect the colon?
A body that does not receive enough water will conserve it for the most vital organs (the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver and glands.) What this means, is the body will begin to over-produce histamines. These histamines have the job of delivering water to organs. If the histamines are not supplied with enough water to support the vital organs, it will borrow water from the GI tract, first. A colon without sufficient water will produce hard stools which do not pass through and exit the body efficiently, which is known as constipation. This in turn can cause a reversal of motility, putting pressure on the stomach, causing its contents to move up into the esophagus. Chronic constipation can also damage the colon lining, potentially leading to diverticulitis.
Over taxed liver and kidneys is another dangerous symptom of dehydration. The colon, without sufficient amounts of water, can also reabsorb its water reserves. Since it does not have clean water to utilize, it will use wastewater, which needs to be filtered through the liver and kidneys.
A stomach that is lacking in water content will be the perfect environment for the H.pylori bacteria to colonize, causing a peptic ulcer.
What other health issues can be caused by dehydration?
Because water is life itself, the entire body will suffer from the lack of water. Some symptoms, syndromes, and diseases include:
Note: If your urine is dark yellow or orange, this is an easy to see indicator that you are dehydrated. Urine should be clear to pale yellow in color. Water intake should be increased gradually, to eventually amount to 3 liters per day. The bare minimum of daily water intake is 8 glasses. Make sure you use a good home water filtering system. I recommend the Dupont water filter, as it is the only one that I have found that filters out microbes. It comes in the faucet dispenser as well as the pitcher dispenser, and can be purchased at most Walmart stores. Tip: Place lemon and lime wedges in a gallon jug filled with filtered water. It perks up the flavor, so you will feel enticed to drink more!
*Please know that I am not a medical doctor or a health practitioner. I cannot diagnose your stomach problems nor can I guarantee a cure. I am here to share my knowledge, which applications have worked for me and to offer suggestions of where you may go physically, emotionally and spiritually for healing and self-empowerment. If you choose to explore alternative medicine, do not independently stop taking your prescribed medications. Always consult with your current doctor as well as your new practitioner when changing your medical program. Find a Naturopath near you.
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