The number of patients who’ve had their gallbladder removed is overwhelming. What used to leave a huge scar in the past is easily removed with a small incision and fiber optic surgery. Because of this ease, doctors advocate removal of the organ before any other alternatives have been discussed.
What’s rarely conveyed is what the ultimate outcome will be from losing this potential troublemaker. For those who have suffered a gallbladder attack, they can understand the troublemaker comment. If you don’t abuse it, you’ll never understand that comment. In a state of abundant health, a person, won’t even know they have one.
When I speak of abusing it, diets involving far too much sugar, alcohol, or use of antacids are areas which can initiate creation of sludge, stones, and inflammation. Often times, removal of the gallbladder never truly corrects much of the discomfort, and only promotes multiple systemic problems.
The more we delve into the vast functions of the gut microbiota, the more we see the close relationship of bile acids in protecting and promoting health in this area. The relationship is bi-directional as the health of the gut affects bile production.
Lower levels of bile acids in the gut are associated with an overgrowth of bacteria and potential pathogens like clostridium difficile and helicobacter pylori. Also an increase in inflammation and re-distribution of bacteria to areas where it shouldn’t be.
Bile acids poses both direct and indirect antimicrobial effects. They exhibit a detergent action which breaks down bacterial membranes. This is important in the regulation of intestinal bacteria. When we deal with overgrowth of the bacteria in the small intestine, the addition of a bile acid supplement can help prevent relapse in these conditions.
The regulation of glucose and cholesterol are greatly influenced by bile acids. In cases of cirrhosis, where bile acids are deficient, regulating cholesterol levels becomes difficult without the use of harmful drugs. The addition of bile acids supplementally helps reduce bacterial overgrowth, bacterial translocation and the related endotoxemia, allowing restoration of gut biochemistry. This can be seen by the reduction of methane gas.
Bile acids aid in restoring gut motility. In cases of constipation bacterial growth becomes distorted, promoting an increase in methane gas being formed. Bile acids increase bowel motility, restoring fluid and electrolytes balance, thus correcting pH and healthy flora. When using these bile salts to restore normal bowel health, increased levels can induce increased elimination resulting in diarrhea, which can signal a need to reduce the dose.
In cases of ulcerative colitis, there can be immune and allergic response which, under normal conditions is avoided by the hepatocytes of the liver being stimulated by bile acids. When working properly, the compound known as phosphatidylcholine, an important component of the protective intestinal mucosal barrier is secreted. This barrier is consistently shown to be deficient in cases of ulcerative colitis. With this in mind, treatments which improve bile acid secretion are critical.
When we look at the health of the digestive system, we have to take into account many factors. Yes, the foods we consume dramatically impact our overall health. More than that, we have to realize that it’s more what’s eating us than what we’re eating. Issues like irritable bowel and Crohn’s disease have very strong emotional connections.
Digestion from mouth to anus requires proper nerve response. When we’re in what’s termed fight or flight modality, the hypothalamus engages the sympathetic nervous system, shutting down the parasympathetic nervous system. This shunts blood away from your digestive system to the heart, lungs, and muscles. This totally shuts down digestion, and the release of bile.
When we eat, the stomach, (in the parasympathetic mode) creates acid to break down food. When stomach pH reaches the proper level of 1.8-2.3, there’s a release of a chemical known as cholecystokinin. This causes the gallbladder to release bile and the pancreas to release enzymes. When the gallbladder has been removed, it’s important to supplement with bile acids.
What’s rarely conveyed is what the ultimate outcome will be from losing this potential troublemaker. For those who have suffered a gallbladder attack, they can understand the troublemaker comment. If you don’t abuse it, you’ll never understand that comment. In a state of abundant health, a person, won’t even know they have one.
When I speak of abusing it, diets involving far too much sugar, alcohol, or use of antacids are areas which can initiate creation of sludge, stones, and inflammation. Often times, removal of the gallbladder never truly corrects much of the discomfort, and only promotes multiple systemic problems.
The more we delve into the vast functions of the gut microbiota, the more we see the close relationship of bile acids in protecting and promoting health in this area. The relationship is bi-directional as the health of the gut affects bile production.
Lower levels of bile acids in the gut are associated with an overgrowth of bacteria and potential pathogens like clostridium difficile and helicobacter pylori. Also an increase in inflammation and re-distribution of bacteria to areas where it shouldn’t be.
Bile acids poses both direct and indirect antimicrobial effects. They exhibit a detergent action which breaks down bacterial membranes. This is important in the regulation of intestinal bacteria. When we deal with overgrowth of the bacteria in the small intestine, the addition of a bile acid supplement can help prevent relapse in these conditions.
The regulation of glucose and cholesterol are greatly influenced by bile acids. In cases of cirrhosis, where bile acids are deficient, regulating cholesterol levels becomes difficult without the use of harmful drugs. The addition of bile acids supplementally helps reduce bacterial overgrowth, bacterial translocation and the related endotoxemia, allowing restoration of gut biochemistry. This can be seen by the reduction of methane gas.
Bile acids aid in restoring gut motility. In cases of constipation bacterial growth becomes distorted, promoting an increase in methane gas being formed. Bile acids increase bowel motility, restoring fluid and electrolytes balance, thus correcting pH and healthy flora. When using these bile salts to restore normal bowel health, increased levels can induce increased elimination resulting in diarrhea, which can signal a need to reduce the dose.
In cases of ulcerative colitis, there can be immune and allergic response which, under normal conditions is avoided by the hepatocytes of the liver being stimulated by bile acids. When working properly, the compound known as phosphatidylcholine, an important component of the protective intestinal mucosal barrier is secreted. This barrier is consistently shown to be deficient in cases of ulcerative colitis. With this in mind, treatments which improve bile acid secretion are critical.
When we look at the health of the digestive system, we have to take into account many factors. Yes, the foods we consume dramatically impact our overall health. More than that, we have to realize that it’s more what’s eating us than what we’re eating. Issues like irritable bowel and Crohn’s disease have very strong emotional connections.
Digestion from mouth to anus requires proper nerve response. When we’re in what’s termed fight or flight modality, the hypothalamus engages the sympathetic nervous system, shutting down the parasympathetic nervous system. This shunts blood away from your digestive system to the heart, lungs, and muscles. This totally shuts down digestion, and the release of bile.
When we eat, the stomach, (in the parasympathetic mode) creates acid to break down food. When stomach pH reaches the proper level of 1.8-2.3, there’s a release of a chemical known as cholecystokinin. This causes the gallbladder to release bile and the pancreas to release enzymes. When the gallbladder has been removed, it’s important to supplement with bile acids.
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