In order to properly address this question we need to take a few steps back, back up north where digestion begins; our brains. Fats are emulsified by the Gallbladder by excreting bile salts as well the Pancreas by excreting Lipase in the small intestine. In order for this to happen properly on a consistent basis, we need to take it from the “top”. If Fats are not being digested, it’s a very good chance that the other macro-nutrients (Proteins, Carbohydrates) aren’t either. Digestion is a complicated process. Since most of it happen automatically, it is easy to discount how much of it is vital to our well-being and long term health. In our journey down this path I will try to keep things simple yet informative.

Digestions start way before you put food in your mouth. The smell, sight and anticipation all gets the “juices” flowing. Our favorite foods are always described as “mouthwatering” for good reason, since our brains trigger our Salivary Glands into action. This is where the first obstacle on the road to good digestion begins. Saliva has important role to play in digestion. It’s not just to make chewing easier, it actually start the chemical breakdown of food. Along with the physical breakdown of food through chewing, we have some good teamwork taking place. Great right, one thing though; saliva need time to work well. Sounds simple but in today’s rush rush world, not so much. We need to try to slow down at meal time, it matters more in our world more than ever. Turn that phone face down and enjoy that nice steak.

Next stop is the stomach. Chemical digestion goes into full swing with the excretion of gastric juices like Pepsinogen/Pepsin, Hydrochloric Acid (HCI) and Gastric Lipase. HCI take the inactive enzyme Pepsinogen and converts it to the active enzyme Pepsin to digest protein. HCI also denatures protein, kills germs and parasites (important). Gastric lipase start the digestion of lipids or fats. Another less known but very important compound is Intrinsic Factor. This is also produced in the stomach and is needed in the absorption of B12 in the small intestine. Intrinsic Factor production diminishes with age and many other health issues. Another subject for another time. The partially broken down food leaving the stomach is called the Chyme. The Chyme is supposed to be very acidic (PH 1-3) before it enters the intestines. If the stomach PH is high (PH 4+), food with not be digested properly. The doorway to the intestines is called the Pyloric Sphincter. The trigger for the sphincter to open is when the Chyme is appropriately acidic. Low acid condition in the stomach means the food just sits in the stomach. We know what happens when food sits around in a warm place, it spoils. Next come the lump in the stomach feeling or the bloated feeling or worse the dreaded acid reflux. Yes you read it right, acid reflux happens with low stomach acid. Not to mention that if food is not broken down properly, you won’t unlock the nutrient within. So you are slowly starving your body while feeling full. Low stomach acid is caused by many factors namely stress, excess alcohol consumption and excess carbohydrates from processed foods.

Next stop is the small intestine, specifically the very beginning of the small intestine called the Duodenum. First the Duodenum releases mucous plus 2 hormones Secretin and Cholecystokinin (CCK). Secretin stimulates the Pancreas and CCK stimulates the Gallbladder. The Liver makes Bile and stores it in the Gallbladder. The Gallbladder excretes bile to emulsify fats. The Pancreas excretes pancreatic juice and bicarbonate. The bicarbonate is used to bring the PH of the Chyme to Neutral or PH7. The Pancreatic Juice will finish the job of digestion but it can only be effective with a neutral PH.

So how does affect our immune system?

As you can see this is a very involved process with many dependencies. Like the old saying goes, the chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Let back up one level north, if the stomach PH is too high (4+) food will degenerate in the stomach. At the same time a high PH condition in the stomach, allow bacterial to grow and propagate. This is one reason all those acid reducer on the market are a very bad idea.

The food or Chyme will eventually make it into the Duodenum but in a state (too high in PH) that does not trigger the accessory organs to act. The Gallbladder won’t secrete bile to breakup fats and the Pancreas won’t secrete Pancreatic juice to finish the digestion process. Even the Duodenum itself won’t secrete the mucous to protect itself from the Chyme, that is still acidic enough to burn and eventually lead to ulcers in the small intestine.

Now we have partial digested food in the small intestine. The fats will continue to rancify, protein will continue to putrefy and carbohydrates will continue to ferment. We probably all have experienced symptoms of indigestion gone wrong at one time or another. So no need to describe them here.

Your intestines are not designed or equipped to deal with undigested food, especially fats at this stage. The spoiled fats have a negative impact on intestinal wall over time. The chronic inflammation causes the spaces between cells in the tissues to widen. The wall develop tiny holes, where the undigested fats and protein seep through. Your gut literally becomes leaky hence the term Leaky Gut Syndrome.

When undigested fats and other macro-nutrients enter the blood. The immune system treats these substances as invaders. The immune system kicks into action against these foreign invaders. The immune system reaction can be minor or massive depending on the progression and current state of leaky gut. Symptoms can be minor like a slight headache or feeling sluggish to life threatening peanut allergy. Since symptoms can be minor, it is easy to not connect the way you feel to the foods you love. I recently found out that I was reacting negatively to bananas. I didn’t know this until my Naturopathic Doctor ordered an IgG Food Intolerance test. Over time these chronic food intolerances is a constant assault on the immune system. What does not help is that this whole time the body is not absorbing nutrients, leading to many other symptoms of malnutrition that are too numerous to list here.

Next time you sit down for a meal. Hopefully it won’t be in front of a TV or eating while in traffic. Take it slow and enjoy the food. You might even feel full before you finish. Your body will thank you in the long run.

How proper digestion of our food, especially fats is vital to our health and the immune system?

So how does affect our immune system?