The Power of Your Pancreas

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Article in a Nutshell

Have you ever stopped to think about where your pancreas is located inside you? You might find it surprising that this less-talked-about organ is well-protected inside the body, indicating its importance as a key element to your well-being, including your digestive and hormonal health.

Most people know the pancreas has something to do with insulin, which helps keep blood sugar levels at bay. However, this very unique organ has numerous functions and is one of the most important parts of your anatomy.

Article in a Nutshell

The pancreas is a multitasker, serving two vital purposes: to aid in food digestion and produce hormones that control energy levels in the blood.

Another amazing fact about the pancreas is that it produces its very own antacid. So, if you experience acid reflux, bloating, digestive disorders, brain fog, or blood sugar imbalances, keep on reading. (1) (2)

In this article, we will examine how pancreatic insufficiency can affect emotions, energy levels, and physiology — your body’s ability to maintain an acid-alkaline balance for optimal health.

Incredible Facts About the Pancreas

The pancreas is a superhero in your body, working hard to keep you energized and healthy. It is tucked away between the stomach and the spine, looking like an “L” turned sideways. One of the pancreas’s most unusual qualities is that it is both a gland and an organ.

Sodium Bicarbonate

The pancreas, unlike other organs in the body, has a double role. It works for the endocrine system, making hormones like insulin and glucagon, which circulate in the blood, and it makes enzymes (exocrine system) that assist in breaking down food.

It also produces sodium bicarbonate, which protects your intestines by neutralizing the acid that comes from the stomach. Bicarbonate also serves the digestive system by raising the internal pH of the stomach as it is an absorbable antacid that quickly relieves symptoms such as acid reflux. This occurs despite the fact that food never passes through the pancreas. (3)

Sodium Bicarbonate

Pancreatic Enzymes

The pancreas is often considered the body’s “juice factory” due to its production of approximately 8 cups (almost 2 liters) of watery enzyme-filled juice each day. These digestive enzymes include: (4)

Trypsin / Protease / Elastase

These enzymes are essential for your body to break down protein, a critical component for building and repairing tissue, muscle growth, hormone production, and other essential functions in the body.

Amylase

This enzyme helps break down carbohydrates into sugar, which your body can use for energy. If you don’t have enough amylase, you may get diarrhea from undigested carbohydrates, which in turn can lead to malabsorption and nutrient deficiencies. (5)

Lipase

This enzyme works together with bile, which your liver produces, to break down fats from your diet. If you don’t have enough lipase, your body will have trouble absorbing important fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). (6)

Pancreatic Hormones

Many hormones are released into your blood and carry messages to other parts of your digestive system. Pancreatic hormones include: (7)

Insulin

This is a hormone made in the cells of the pancreas that helps your body use sugar for energy. Without enough insulin, your sugar levels rise in your blood, and you can develop diabetes.

Glucagon

If your blood sugar gets too low, glucagon helps raise it by sending a message to your liver to release stored sugar.

Gastrin

Gastrin hormone stimulates your stomach to make Hydrochloric Acid. The production of this gastric acid decreases as we age – leading to digestive disorders such as heartburn, upper abdominal or chest pain, burping, and bad breath. Additionally, gastric acid plays an integral role in the digestion of food and protects the body from pathogens ingested with food and water. (8)

Energetics, Emotions, and Symptoms of Pancreatic Insufficiency

According to research, there is a causal link between emotions, energetics, and nutrient deficiencies and the development of pancreatic insufficiency. The energetics of the pancreas falls into the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) category of the Earth Element (Pancreas, Spleen, Stomach).

Some of the emotions attributed to these organs are mental chatter, hyperfocus, and being overwhelmed/stressed. Therefore, emotional stress prevents the stomach and pancreas from releasing enzymes necessary for healthy digestion. In time, these stressors — physical or mental — can make matters worse.

“ One of the pancreas's most unusual qualities is that it is both a gland and an organ. ”

Symptoms associated with Pancreatic Insufficiency include: (9)

Bloating
Cramps, discomfort, or pain in the abdomen
Diarrhea
Loose, greasy, or bad-smelling stools
Passing excess gas, or flatulence
Weight loss
Low hydrochloric acid production, leading to acid reflux
High blood glucose, leading to diabetes

Supporting pancreatic health is essential because the pancreas plays a vital role in digestion, blood sugar balance, energy, and overall wellness. Here are some natural ways to keep your pancreas healthy: (10)

Improve your diet: avoid processed foods and eat whole organic foods
Eat organic alkalizing foods rich in Vitamin A, C, D, E, and K
Eat organic alkalizing foods rich in potassium
Exercise
Try alternative methods for pain relief by utilizing natural herbs known for their pain-relieving properties, such as turmeric combined with pepper, ginger and willow bark
Address nutrient deficiencies by taking a high-quality multi-vitamin
Address Delayed Food Allergens
Boost omega-3 fatty acids
Add probiotic foods to your diet (fermented vegetable, kimchi or sauerkraut)
Drink herbal tea (peppermint, green tea, ginger, or chamomile)
Drink water with lemon in the morning
Incorporate foods high in glutamine into your diet

Why Guess When You Can Know?

Have you reached a plateau in your healing journey and found yourself at a loss on how to move forward? One of the most effective ways to turn things around is to identify potential Delayed Food Allergens and microbiome abnormalities that could impact your digestion, nutrient absorption, and intestinal function, leading to chronic inflammation and infections.

Here are three recommended lab panels:

Final Thoughts

In today’s world navigating what is good and what is bad for our health can be overwhelming. However, the two-way connection between emotional balance and internal terrain is gaining much attention from scientists today, despite being well-documented for centuries by ancient cultures and practices like Traditional Chinese Medicine.

About the Author

M. Moriah Mor, ND, CHN, is a Naturopathic Practitioner, Certified Holistic Nutritionist, and founder of GreenSilk.com. She is dedicated to helping people live healthier lifestyles through education, nutrition, and premium natural health products. With more than 18 years in the wellness field, Moriah is a graduate of the Energetic Health Institute, AMCC, and the University of Southern California. She is passionate about researching the latest breakthroughs in holistic health.

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