How does the Pancreas affects your Poop?
Let’s talk about Poop!
Making a well formed, soft deposit 1-2 times a day is important for our overall health. We need to Poop to take out our Metabolic trash!! On the other hand going too much or having several loose movements a day can cause malabsorption. Malabsorption can lead to nutrient deficiencies and poor immune health.
The most common reasons for Loose Stools AKA Diarrhea are:
- Toxins : Food Posioning is an example.
- Malabsorption: Poor Pancreatic function, Celiac, Lactose Intolerance, and issues digesting Fat.
- Motility: Diabetic Gastroparesis or other motility disorders
- Inflammation: GI Infection, Pathogens or Autoimmune diseases like Crohns or Colitis
This week I wanted to talk about the Pancreas and how it affects our Poop because Metabolic and Blood Sugar dysregultion is on the rise.
Most of us know that the Pancreas is the organ that makes insulin. One part of it’s job is to support and control blood sugar levels in the body. Insulin moves sugar from the blood into the cells.
The Pancreas also makes glucagon, which triggers the liver to break down stored sugar and release into the blood stream when needed.
Insulin and Glucagon have an inverse relationship and work together to help keep blood sugar stable. Eating and drinking too many simple carbs and snacks can cause challenges however finding the right dietary balance of Proteins/Fats, and Healthy Carbs is different for everyone based on the function and health of their organs.
The Pancreas has important function in digestion.
It makes three major enzymes that are involved in digestion and the breakdown of foods so they can easily be absorbed by the intestines. They are Amylase, Protease and Lipase.
You will notice if have an amylase ( breaks down carbs ) deficiency as you will experience more gas and bloating as the undigested carbs make it to the colon. The good new is the gas created will not smell bad.
If you have a protease defieciency ( which breaks down proteins) your gas will be pretty stinky.
If you have a lipase deficiency ( which breaks down fat) you will notice that your bowel movements will be oily.
So what can you do ?
- You can take a supplement that contains these three digestive enzymes.
- It maybe more beneficial to take a supplement that has these enzymes and also has a soothing component like Glutamine
- Review when you are eating and how much at one sitting
- Review your Stress level. You cannot digest food when you are under stress.
- Review the ratio of foods you consume: Are you eating too many Carbs, too much Fat? Not enough Fiber or Proteins etc (If you are on one of the many “DIET’S” then you might require support)
- You might have to support Stomach Acid production in order for the Pancreas to receive the signal that it needs to release enzymes.
- Lastly, the Pancreas if the organ of “Enough.” If you feeling not enough in an area of your life, then this mindset could be driving your decisions around food and what kinds of food you are choosing.
If you are Female …
You will go through a lot of hormonal swings at various stages of your life. Those swings cause increased challenges to all the endocrine organs. This is why it is super important to keep Blood Sugar Stable through this process. If you are cycling then choose complex high fiber carbs post ovulation to help keep things in balance.
Now that you know more about how the Pancreas affects your Poop you can be your own health detective.
Support Suggestions:
- Enzymes: Enzymix Pro, Multizyme, Enzycore
- Increase Stomach Acid: Digest Forte, Bitters, Zypan, and HCL
- Stress: Ashwaganhda, Adrenal Complex, Drenamin
- Blood Sugar Support: Chromium, Cataplex GTF, Paraplex, Diaplex
- Energy/General: B Complex, AF Betafood
Click Here to purchase support and if you need additional support please reach out as I am here to serve.
Have a healthy week
Dr Pia
