Issues with Digestion

In the post The Basics of Digestion, we discussed digestion fundamentals with a few important takeaways. To recap, we discussed the importance of:

1. The cephalic phase of eating- In this phase, we engage with our brain-gut connection by creating a ritual around thoughtfully preparing our foods, using our senses and focusing on the first two mindfulness questions. We are allowing for adequate time for the stimulation of our saliva and gastric juices which contain digestive enzymes to flood our mouth and stomach, getting our bodies primed and ready for digestion. This sets us up for the optimal absorption of the nutrients we are eating!

2. Chewing our food- In this phase we are ingesting our food and chewing it as best as we can, breaking it down into the smallest pieces possible. This allows for the best mixing of our food with saliva and enzymes which can facilitate optimal digestion. This is the perfect time to engage in the third set of mindfulness questions to see how we are feeling while eating as in the cephalic phase, we want to take our time with this process for it to be the most beneficial!

This brings us to this follow up science post that initiates the conversation about digestive issues. Now that we have a better understanding of how digestion works, let’s take a deeper look at how The Livy Method can best support those who may have concerns or healing needed for their digestive issues.

Because there are so many possible digestive issues, this article will focus on the most common issues that most people have. These articles do not take the place of your doctor or health care provider (HCP). If you have more in-depth issues or concerns, it is very important to consult with your HCP and communicate any questions or concerns with them!

Hypochlorhydria, otherwise known as the low production of the stomach acid HCL (Hydrochloric Acid)

As we discussed in The Basics of Digestion, during the cephalic phase, once our chewed foods enter our stomach, parietal cells that are contained in the lining of our stomach begin to release hydrochloric acid. This occurs in order to create an acidic environment to activate the digestiv