Some salient points:
In the large intestine, fluid is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream and feces or stool is formed.
When stomach acid secretion is impaired, the stage is set for an increased risk of infection from organisms such as Candida or yeast.
Furthermore, low acid or hypochlorhydria will result in poor protein breakdown, and subsequent poor absorption of amino acids.
How can one tell if he has low stomach acid? After meals, one may feel that the food seems to remain in the stomach and has difficulty progressing through the intestines.
Basically, when the liver detoxification mechanisms are not functioning properly, the body is poisoned with a buildup of toxins. The toxins may originate from outside the body in the form of pesticides, alcohol, drugs, paint fumes, exhaust fumes and many others or from inside the body from the gut or from metabolic products.
It is important to realize that when a physician orders blood tests that are called liver function tests or a liver profile he is not really measuring how well the liver is able to carry out its detoxification function. Rather he is generally measuring damage to liver cells.
The liver helps in the removal of toxic and metabolic waste products from the body. This detoxification process occurs in two phases, termed Phase I and Phase II.
Phase I involves a system of enzymes known as the cytochrome P-450 mixed-function oxidase enzymes system. These enzymes react with toxins, drugs, alcohol, paint fumes and many other substances to form compounds that are capable of being transformed to water soluble substances by Phase II reactions (conjugation).
It is important to understand the status of the liver detoxification system because if for example you use the treatment to upregulate Phase I when Phase II is inadequate, then the patient may get worse.