A 52-year-old member asked:
how does the digestive system protect us from pathogens?
1 doctor answer
Dr. Randall Rogers answered
43 years experience Colon and Rectal Surgery
GI defense: the protection is mostly when you first eat. The stomach has a very low Ph and the extreme acidity makes it hard for pathogens to enter your system. However, after a heavy meal or if you take acid reducers (Nexium, etc), then it takes a much smaller dose of bacteria to cause illness.
Answered on Jan 26, 2016
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