Bile Duct Congestion Can Lead to Intestinal Diseases and Liver Disorders by Andreas Moritz (see all articles by this author) (NaturalNews) The small intestine is continuous with the stomach at the pyloric sphincter and has a length of 16-19 feet. It leads into the large intestine, which is about 3.5-5 feet long. The small intestine secretes intestinal juice to complete the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. It also absorbs nutrient materials necessary for nourishing and maintaining the body and protects it against infection by microbes that have survived the antimicrobial action of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Intestinal Diseases When acid food (chyme) from the stomach enters the duodenum, it combines first with bile and pancreatic juice, and then with intestinal juice. Gallstones in the liver and gallbladder drastically reduce the secretion of bile, which weakens the ability of pancreatic enzymes to digest carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. This, in turn, prevents the small intestine from properly absorbing the nutrient components of these foods (such as monosaccharides from carbohydrates, amino acids from protein, and fatty acids and glycerol from fats). This incomplete absorption can lead to undernourishment and food cravings. Since the presence of bile in the intestines is essential for the absorption of life-essential fats, calcium, and vitamin K, gallstones can lead to life-threatening diseases, such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. The liver uses the fat-soluble vitamin K to produce the compounds responsible for the clotting of blood. In case of poor vitamin K absorption, hemorrhagic disease may result. The body cannot fully absorb this vitamin when a problem with the digestion of fat exists. The main cause of inadequate vitamin K absorption is an insufficient supply of bile, pancreatic lipase, and pancreatic fat. It stands to reason that following a low-fat or no-fat diet can actually endanger your life. Calcium is essential for the hardening of bone and teeth, the coagulation of blood, and the mechanism of muscle contraction. Poor bile secretion can, therefore, undermine the uptake of calcium, a mineral the body requires for some of its most vital activities. What applies to vitamin K also applies to all other fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, E, and D. The small intestine can only absorb vitamin A and carotene sufficiently if fat absorption is normal. If vitamin A absorption is insufficient, the epithelial cells become damaged. These cells form an essential part of all the organs, blood vessels, lymph vessels, and so on in the body. Vitamin A is also necessary to maintain healthy eyes and protect against or reduce microbial infection. Vitamin D is essential for calcification of bones and teeth. It is of great importance to realize that supplementing these vitamins does not resolve the problem of deficiency. To sum it up, without normal bile secretions, the body cannot digest and absorb enough of these vitamins, which, in turn, can cause considerable damage to the circulatory, lymphatic, and urinary systems. Inadequately digested foods tend to ferment and putrefy in the small and large intestines. They attract a vast number of bacteria to help speed up the process of decomposition. The breakdown products are often very toxic, and so are the excretions produced by the bacteria. All of this strongly irritates the mucus lining, which is one of the body's foremost defense lines against disease-causing agents. Regular exposure to these toxins impairs the body's immune system, 60 percent of which is located in the intestines. Overburdened by a constant invasion of toxins, the small and large intestines may be afflicted with a number of disorders, including diarrhea, constipation, abdominal gas, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease, hernias, polyps, dysentery, appendicitis, volvulus, and intussusceptions, as well as both benign and malignant tumors. Ample bile flow maintains good digestion and absorption of food and has a strong cleansing action throughout the intestinal tract. Every part of the body depends on the basic nutrients made available through the digestive system, as well as the efficient removal of waste products from that system. Gallstones in the liver and gallbladder considerably disrupt both these vital processes. Therefore, they can be held accountable for most, if not all, of the different kinds of ailments that can afflict the body. Removal of gallstones from these two organs helps to normalize the digestive and eliminative functions, improve cell _meta_bolism, and maintain balance throughout the body. Diseases of the Liver The liver is the largest gland in the body. It weighs up to three pounds, is suspended behind the ribs on the upper right side of the abdomen, and spans almost the entire width of the body. Being responsible for hundreds of different functions, it is also the most complex and active organ in the body. Since the liver is in charge of processing, converting, distributing, and maintaining the body's vital fuel supply (for example, nutrients and energy), anything that interferes with these functions must have a serious, detrimental impact on the health of the liver and the body as a whole. The strongest interference stems from the presence of gallstones. Besides manufacturing cholesterol