The Role of your Pancreas is a Dual One.
Your Digestive System and Endocrine System are both influenced by the role of your Pancreas. This essential organ is located in the abdomen, right by your stomach and small intestine. It assists in food digestion and blood glucose regulation.
Looking like a flattened pear, or a long bean, the Pancreas is approximately six to ten inches long
The Pancreas consists of two main parts: the exocrine pancreas, which makes enzymes to help digest food, and the endocrine pancreas, which makes hormones, including insulin and glucagon, to control blood sugar levels. These two components work in tandem to ensure the body’s metabolic functions are running smoothly and the role of your pancreas is fulfilled.
The Anatomy of Your Pancreas
This organ is divided into four areas:
- Head
- Neck
- Body
- Tail
The head is the widest part and lies closest to the duodenum. The neck is the thinnest part, connecting the head and body. The body is the central part, and the tail, the narrowest part, stretches towards the spleen.
Each part of the pancreas has a specific function. The exocrine cells, which form the majority of the pancreas, produce digestive enzymes. These enzymes are transported via the pancreatic duct, which runs the length of the pancreas from the tail to the head, where it merges with the bile duct before entering the duodenum.
Digestive enzymes are critical for digestion and absorption. This is why they are included in your bioenergetic testing with a CBH Energetics Full Scan and Balancing Scan.
The endocrine cells, also known as the Islets of Langerhans, are scattered throughout the pancreas and produce important hormones:
- Insulin
- Glucagon
- Somatostatin
- Pancreatic polypeptide
We bioenergetically test insulin and glucagon, as they have a relationship to each other!
The Role of Your Pancreas in Digestion
The exocrine pancreas produces pancreatic juice, a cocktail of enzymes and bicarbonate, which aids in breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the food we eat. This juice travels through the pancreatic duct into the small intestine, where it combines with bile to further break down food particles.
Scan tip: If you see Liver stress on your CBH Energetics results, look at the bottom of your Full Scan report to see if this is either the liver, the gallbladder or both. If one of these is stressed, there could be a link to Fatty Acids, Digestive System Stress, and numerous energetic nutrition imbalances.
Pancreatic juice is alkaline in nature, which helps neutralize the acidic chyme (partially digested food) coming from the stomach. This neutralization creates the optimal environment for digestive enzymes to function.
Your Pancreas and Pancreatic Enzymes?
Let’s get into the role of your pancreas and pancreatic enzymes a bit deeper. The three main enzymes are amylase, lipase, and another group called proteases. Amylase breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars, which can be absorbed by the small intestine. Lipase works on fats and breaks them down into fatty acids and glycerol. Proteases, which include trypsin and chymotrypsin, break down proteins into amino acids.
Fun Fact: Amylase is also in your saliva. Ever get a dry mouth when you are about to give a speech or speak up somewhere? Your Nervous System does that. Stress can decrease saliva production and flow.
These enzymes are released in an inactive form and are activated in the small intestine to prevent the enzymes from digesting the pancreas itself. The efficient breakdown of nutrients is utilized for our body’s energy needs, growth, and repair.
The Role of Your Pancreas in Blood Sugar Regulation
Most of us think of the pancreas as the blood sugar regulator, and you would not be wrong, The endocrine pancreas produces two critical hormones, insulin and glucagon, which work in tandem to maintain blood sugar balance.
Insulin is released when the blood sugar levels are high, such as after a meal. It helps cells in the body take in glucose from the bloodstream for energy or to store it for future use. Glucagon, on the other hand, is released when blood sugar levels are low. It signals the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream.
The Importance of Insulin and Glucagon
Insulin and glucagon are like the yin and yang of blood sugar regulation. The interplay between them ensures that the body has a steady supply of energy. Insulin promotes the uptake of glucose and its conversion into glycogen for storage in the liver and muscle cells. It also stimulates protein synthesis and inhibits the breakdown of fats.
Glucagon acts as the counter-regulatory hormone to insulin. It stimulates the breakdown of glycogen to glucose and the production of new glucose in the liver. This ensures that the blood glucose levels do not fall too low, especially during periods of fasting or intense physical activity.
Top Worries About the Role of Your Pancreas
The pancreas, like any other organ, is prone to disorders and diseases. Some common disorders include pancreatitis and diabetes. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, many times caused by excessive alcohol consumption or gallstones.
Diabetes is a chronic condition resulting from the pancreas’ inability to produce enough insulin (Type 1) or the body’s inability to use the insulin it produces effectively (Type 2). All these conditions disrupt the normal functioning of the pancreas and can lead to serious health complications if not managed properly.
Understanding the Role of Your Pancreas in Health
Maintaining pancreatic health is linked to low or no alcohol consumption. Avoiding large quantities of refined sugar and simple carbohydrates is also suggested while working towards creating balanced health.
Limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding smoking can also help protect the pancreas. Regular exercise can help regulate blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy weight, reducing the risk of pancreatic disorders.
Early detection and treatment of pancreatic disorders can prevent serious complications. Regular check-ups and being aware of the symptoms of pancreatic diseases, such as abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, or changes in stool (look out for oily stool), can help in early diagnosis and treatment.
Top Takeaways for Understanding the Role of Your Pancreas
We know that the Pancreas aids in digestion by producing enzymes to break down food, and it regulates blood sugar levels by producing insulin and glucagon.
What can stress the Pancreas?
- Alcohol consumption
- Hyperlipidemia (high triglycerides)
- Hypercalcemia (excess blood calcium)
- Bacterial challenges
- Viral challenges
- Gallstones
- Genetics
Alcohol consumption is a common cause of acute pancreatitis, as are gallstones (1). Alcohol can also cause chronic pancreatitis, as well as many of the other things above.
Common bacteria that may affect the Pancreas:
- Mycoplasma
- Legionella
- Salmonella
- Leptospira
Common viruses that affect the Pancreas (2):
- Coxsackie
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Herpes Simplex
- Mumps
Common parasites that affect the Pancreas:
- Toxoplasma
- Cryptosporidium
- Ascaris
- Echinococcus
Did you know that molds and fungus can affect the Pancreas? This is all linked to increased permeability of the gut, where bacteria and fungus may make their way to the Pancreas (3). This small study discusses how Candida has been isolated in people with pancreatic necrosis, which may happen after the stage of pancreatitis.
Another reason is that maintaining our digestive environment is really important to all body systems, including the pancreas.
CTA: Need support for your Digestive System? Book a call with a practitioner.
