Optimal digestion is crucial for overall health and well-being. It ensures that the body efficiently breaks down food into nutrients, which are then absorbed and utilized for energy, growth, and cellular repair. Proper digestion supports a strong immune system, maintains a healthy gut microbiome, and helps prevent gastrointestinal disorders. Additionally, it plays a significant role in mental health, as the gut is often referred to as the "second brain" due to its impact on mood and cognitive function. Therefore, maintaining optimal digestion is vital for sustaining physical and mental health, enhancing quality of life, and preventing chronic diseases. In this episode of The Nutritional Therapy and Wellness Podcast, host Jamie Belz, FNTP, MHC, continues along the journey of digestion, explaining that if someone is not properly digesting their food, they will not be able to absorb and assimilate the nutrients from the foods they are eating, regardless of how healthful those foods are. Jamie brings back another historical audio clip from a lecture initially given by the founder of The Nutritional Therapy Association, Gray Graham. In Episode 10, Gray discussed the optimal function of digestion. This time, he walks you through “Digestive Hell” – the myriad of diseases, conditions, and other unpleasantries that arise from a suboptimal digestive system. The health of the organism is dependent upon the health of the organ systems, which are dependent upon the health of the organs, which is dependent upon the health of the tissues, which is dependent upon the health of the cells, which is dependent upon digestion. Thus, all wellness begins with digestion. Therefore, does all disease stem from digestive dysfunction? Not exactly, but you can eat the healthiest diet possible for your bio-individual needs, and if you’re not breaking it down to the necessary molecules your body can utilize, what’s the point? Every single cell in all tissues, organs, and systems of an organism relies on the ability to properly absorb nutrients from food. Factors such as stress, poor eating habits, gallbladder removal, and reduced levels of stomach acid (HCl) can hinder digestion. Given the critical role of nutrition in maintaining healthy cells, any disruption in digestion can be harmful in various ways. When the digestive system is compromised, it can lead to a domino effect, impacting the functioning of other bodily systems, 02:35 – Recap of optimal digestion 04:07 – Start of digestive dysfunction 05:23 – “Where’s ‘Digestive Hell’?” 06:56 – Distraction, stress, sympathetic state 13:22 – Pancreatic amylase 13:30 – Dysbiosis, yeast, pathogens (Also at 19:50) 13:55 – It’s all about acid/pH levels 15:17 – Macronutrient degradation 15:47 – Inputs for the production of HCl  16:20 – Things that cause hypochlorhydria (stress, too much protein, zinc, other nutrient deficiencies, allergies…) 17:13 – Dr. Jonathan Wright, the use of the Heidelberg Test for diagnosis of hypochlorhydria, pH for proper hormone function and enzymatic action 21:37 – Pasteur vs. Bechamp / Microorganisms vs. Terraine (Which is to blame?) 23:34 – Hpylori 26:53 – Heartburn, acid reflux, GERD, ulcers 37:50 – Homework/experiment 39:40 – Chyme into the duodenum, secretin, pancreas, bicarbonate, incomplete digestion, whole food particles in the small intestine 42:11 – Gallbladder, bile, fats, cholecystokinin, liver, fat-free or low-fat diet as the cause of gallstones and gallbladder dysfunction, cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) 52:06 – Burping up fish oil and delayed release fish oil 55:04 – Undigested proteins, microvilli, leaky gut/gut permeability, immune dysfunction 56:03 – Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, healing her autistic child, GAPS Diet 58:04 – Large intestine/colon, ileocecal valve, dysbiosis, inflammation diverticulitis, irritable bowel, Crohn's disease, celiac disease/gluten reactivi