From the very earliest days in medicine, physicians recognized that analyzing stool can help determine a number of physical conditions. This analysis can lead to a diagnosis and treatment of issues as diverse as indigestion and constipation. Further, research has shown that digestive problems can be associated with issues like IBS and arthritis. Analysis can help determine treatment options which can lead to an overall improvement in health and wellbeing.
How It Works
The Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis evaluates digestion and absorption, yeast and immune status, and bacterial balance for patients with indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, malabsorption, and other GI-related issues. Stool can also be evaluated for internal parasites using a microscopic examination.
Food is a type of fuel for the human body. When a patient is unable to completely digest foods and absorb nutrients, he or she is not adequately fueling the body. Poor digestion of foods and nutrients can result in a variety of health problems. Both poor digestion and imbalances in your intestinal flora can cause a number of ailments, from more minor – yet uncomfortable – bouts of constipation and abdominal pain, to more serious illnesses associated with digestion, such as migraines or asthma.
The CDSA is an important tool to evaluate a patient's gastrointestinal health. The test is able to closely evaluate digestion of food molecules, the absorption of nutrients, imbalances of the intestinal flora, presence of bacterial infections or hidden yeast, dietary fiber intake, and intestinal immune function.
The Digestion Process
Proper gastrointestinal function is a vital component of the human body, impacting all aspects of body function. Nearly one-third of your daily calorie intake is required for the digestive, assimilative and immune functions of the body to run smoothly. As the only organ in the body with its own independently-working nervous and lymphatic systems, the gastrointestinal system is of prime importance to the body as a whole.
The majority of GI complaints are associated with a handful of common complaints, such as maldigestion, abnormal gut flora, malabsorption, and a series of chronic illnesses and related symptoms. Digestion and nutrition are key factors to maintaining long-term health. The Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis provides the critical information needed to sufficiently evaluate the status of the GI tract in patients.
Gastrointestinal Tract
The primary role of the gastrointestinal tract is to break down molecules and absorb nutrients that cannot be otherwise utilized or absorbed in their native state. This complex process occurs within the gastrointestinal mucosa, where healthy nutrients are absorbed and harmful toxins are expelled from the body. Each part of the digestive system plays a major role in the digestion of foods and nutrients.
The mouth contains teeth for breaking up food and combining it with saliva. Used to protect the esophageal and pharyngeal mucosa from damage, the saliva forms a bolus. It also helps to remineralize calcium salts for the teeth. Next, the stomach mechanically breaks up, churns, and emulsifies foods while exposing molecules to enzymes. During this process, the stomach produces two liters of gastric juices each day.
Most of the system's digestion and absorption takes place within the small intestine. It begins with the secretion of pancreatic juices, which in turns, stimulates hormone production due to the presence of protein, fat, and acid chime. Stomach acid is then neutralized by bicarbonate. Chymotrypsin, trypsin, and carboxypeptidase enzymes are then used to digest proteins to amino acids and oligopeptides. The final state of digestion begins in the large intestine where nearly one liter of water is absorbed each day. It also provides an environment for microbial fermentation of starch, soluble fiber, and undigested carbohydrates.
The Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis measures markers of digestion and absorption, as well as microbiology. From this information, our Naturopathic physicians can diagnose underlying causes of digestive problems such as IBS.
To schedule your own CDSA at our Vancouver Vitalia Healthcare facility, call us today at 1-604-566-WELL (9355).