What Protects The Stomach In Normal Health From Self-Digestion?

What Protects The Stomach In Normal Health From Self-digestion?

Proteins are the chief nutrients contained in meat, milk, egg, pulses etc. Pepsin is the enzyme secreted by the stomach that digests these proteins in the presence of hydrochloric acid. If the protein in the meat that we eat can be digested by the stomach juices, why does the stomach not digest its own lining which is also a protein?

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In the dynamic healthy living state, the stomach lining is well protected. A slimy thick coating of mucus and a thin layer of alkali (bicarbonate) under the mucus, prevent the acid and pepsin from reaching the stomach lining. The small quantity of the strong acid that may pass through the mucus barrier, gets neutralized by this alkali. Further, if the acid passes through even this alkaline barrier, a healthy lining with good blood flow offers natural resistance and the few cells that may get digested are soon replaced by the capacity of the gastric lining to repair quickly. These protectors are always in a dynamic balance with the aggressors.

What are Aggressors?

Smoking, alcohol, and medicines like aspirin, pain killers etc., that are known to induce excessive acid production (hyperacidity), are called aggressors. All these substances are related to one's lifestyle and habits. That is, these are what you do against the natural healthy ways of living.

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