Excerpted from the recent book contribution by Senior Fellow Dr. Russell M. Jaffe, MD, Ph.D., CCN investigating the use of bioactive food as a therapy in treating liver and gastrointestinal diseases, this chapter focuses on functional assessments.
Digestion is a series of sophisticated metabolic processes that convert plant carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and other nutrients into building blocks that the body can utilize for nourishment, growth, and repair when toxin load and stress hormones permit. Healthy digestion produces molecular building blocks that support immune system tolerance and enable proactive repair. Multiple mechanisms exclude trap and neutralize larger molecules that can be bioactive and sometimes immunogenic.