Ox Bile assists with your digestion.
Ox Bile
Updated Mar. 21st, 2024
Ox bile is an extract of exactly what its name implies, the bile of an ox. Because it is made from the bile of an animal, it contains many of the digestive enzymes and nutrients that we need to help us properly digest our food. Ox bile can be used to supplement fat digestion and in the treatment of nausea, upset stomach and diarrhea.
What is bile?
Bile is a yellowy-greenish substance that is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. When we eat substances that contain fat, it stimulates our gallbladder to release the stored bile into our digestive tract, where it mixes with our food.
Because bile contains substances that promote the proper breakdown of fat, it is essential to our proper metabolism of fatty foods such as dairy products, oils, and meat. In addition to its digestive function, bile contains body salts, minerals and often cholesterol.
What does it do?
When released into the small intestine, or when taken as a supplement, bile mixes into the food in our digestive tract and helps to act on any fat there, much like a detergent. This means that it takes big fat globules and makes them into tiny balls that lipase (the fat digesting enzyme) can easily work on. Some people, who have had their gallbladder removed, use ox bile to supplement their bile production with meals since they no longer have a storage place for their own bile. With improved digestion of fats, the ability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K improves as well.
How can I get ox bile?
Ox bile can be found in a number of different digestive aid supplements. It is often found in combination with digestive enzymes such as lipase, protease, and amylase. There is no recommended dosage associated with ox bile, so it is best to follow the label recommendations of each individual product.
Important Information
If ox bile is taken in excessive amounts it can cause diarrhea due to osmotic effect (drawing water into the intestines).
