Small Intestines

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Other names for Small Intestines

Small Bowel
small gut
Small intestine

Synopsis of Small Intestines

The small bowel, or small intestine, is a long, coiled tube approximately 20 feet in length that plays a central role in digestion and nutrient absorption. It is located between the stomach and the large intestine and consists of three segments:

  • Duodenum: The first section, where digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver mix with chyme.

  • Jejunum: The middle portion, primarily responsible for nutrient absorption.

  • Ileum: The final section, which absorbs vitamin B12, bile acids, and any remaining nutrients before passing contents to the colon.

The inner lining of the small bowel contains villi and microvilli, which dramatically increase surface area and maximize absorption. The small bowel also plays a key role in the gut immune system, housing immune tissues like Peyer’s patches.

Proper function of the small intestine is vital for overall health. Disorders can affect digestion, absorption, immunity, and microbial balance:

  • Celiac disease: An autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, causing damage to the small bowel lining and nutrient malabsorption.

  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO): An imbalance of bacteria in the small intestine, leading to bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.

  • Crohn’s disease: An inflammatory bowel disease that often targets the ileum and causes pain, inflammation, and nutrient loss.

  • Lactose intolerance: Results from a deficiency of lactase, an enzyme produced in the small bowel.

  • Malabsorption syndromes: Include various conditions where essential nutrients (iron, B12, fats) are not absorbed properly.

Symptoms of small bowel dysfunction may include abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, nutrient deficiencies, and irregular stools.

Natural remedies to support Small Intestines

Weight-bearing exercise: Walking, resistance training, and jumping stimulate bone formation.

Calcium and magnesium: Essential minerals for bone density and structure.

Vitamin D: Crucial for calcium absorption and bone metabolism.

Vitamin K2: Helps direct calcium to bones and away from soft tissues.

Collagen: Provides the structural matrix for bone tissue.

Boron and silica: Trace minerals that support bone mineralization and flexibility.

Anti-inflammatory diet: Reduces chronic inflammation that may impair bone repair.

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to support Small Intestines.

2'-Fucosyllactose
Acemannan
Agrimonia pilosa
Alchemilla
Alchornea
Algal protein
Aloe vera
alpha-galactosidase
Alpha-glycans
amino acids
aminopeptidase
amylase
animal protein
arabinoxylan
ashitaba
asparagus
Asteraceae
Bacillus
bacillus clausii
bacillus coagulans
Bacillus indicus
Bacillus licheniformis
bacillus subtilis
bacteria
bael
bayberry
bee products
berberine
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
bile
bile acid
bile salt
bitter principals
black seed
Boerhavia diffusa
bottle gourd
bran
Brassica
broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Buckwheat
butternut
butyrate triglyceride
butyric acid
cape aloe
caprylic acid
carrot
carvacrol
cayenne pepper
Centella triterpenes
chia seed
chickpea protein
chicory
Chitin-Glucan Complex
Cinnamomum
cinnamon
Citrus
Clostridium butyricum
colostrum
corktree
cowpea
cruciferous
curry leaf
Debaryomyces hansenii
diamine oxidase
dioscorea
egg
Egg protein
electrolytes blend (proprietary)
endo-peptidase
Enterococcus
enzyme blend
enzymes blend (proprietary)
Eucheuma
exo-peptidase
fatty acids
fennel
fenugreek
fiber
fiber blend (proprietary)
fig
fish
flavones
flavonoids
flavonols
flaxseed
folate
Foxtail millet
fringetree
fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
fruit
fungal enzymes blend (proprietary)
fungal protease
galactooligosaccharides
galactosidase
ginger
Glucooligosaccharides
glucose
Glutamine
Glutenase
Glycomacropeptides
Glycyrrhizin
goldthread
green banana
green tea
Gymnema
Gymnema sylvestre
herbal blend (proprietary)
honey
immunoglobin G
Immunoglobulin G
intrinsic factor
inulin
isomalto-oligosaccharide
kale
Kefir
kiwi
Kluyveromyces lactis
Kluyveromyces marxianus
Konjac
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
L-alanyl-L-glutamine
L-glutamine
L. lactis
lactalbumin
lactase
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus pentosus
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus sakei
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactococcus casei
Lactococcus lactis
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactoferrin
Legume protein
lemon
Lentil
lingzhi
lipase
lipids
magnesium
maltase
mannans
Marshmallow
Matapalo Tree
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Microbial enzymes (proprietary)
Milk Protein
Millet
millet seed
Mimosa
Mineral ascorbate
Monounsaturated fat
Mucilage
Mung bean
Mushroom
N-acetyl-glucosamine
Nigella seed
okra
Oligosaccharides
ox bile
Paenibacillus polymyxa
pancreatin
papaya
parsley
pear
Pediococcus acidilactici
Pediococcus pentosaceus
Peptidase
peptidase (DPPIV)
Peptides
phaseolamin
phellodendron amurense
phenolic compounds
phospholipids
Phyllanthus
phytase
Piperine
polyphenols
polysaccharides
Portulaca
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
probiotics
prolyl endopeptidase (PEP)
Propionibacterium freudenreichii
protease
protein
proteolytic enzymes
Pterocarpus marsupium
pu-er tea
pumpkin
purslane
rice
rockweed
Saccharomyces boulardii
Salacia
Salmon Oil
Sargassum
Scimitar bean
seaweed
Slippery Elm
slippery elm bark
Soy Protein
soybean
Spelt
spinach
streptococcus thermophilus
sucrase
sulforaphane glucosinolate
Tagatose
Taka amylase
Terpenoids
Tiger Nut
trace minerals
tributyrin
turmeric
vitamin A
vitamin B
vitamin D
vitamin D3
Watermelon
xylooligosaccharides
Yacon
Yarrow
Zinc

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