The digestive process consists of multiple steps and organs to keep the body functioning and well-nourished.
In addition, the gut is pertinent to the enteric, central, lymphatic, and immune systems. This cycle starts with consuming water and food and concludes with bowel movements, and the sequence of events is repeated to give the body the nutrients it needs to keep the body alive and healthy.
Breaking it Down
Mouth: The process begins when food or beverage enters our mouth. Our teeth, tongue, nerves, and saliva are vital, helping to break down the food into small digestible pieces and allowing the food to be savored. The brain is very active in this process with the involvement of all senses.
NobalTip: Chew your food until it's nearly liquid for better digestion.
Esophagus: The esophagus consists of muscles that have voluntary (throat entrance) and involuntary control. It creates a passageway for food and liquid to enter the stomach.
Stomach: The stomach holds and breaks down food to mush. Water, hydrochloric acid, the enzyme pepsin, and saliva are pivotal to this process. It is then broken down to chyme, a thick liquid. It is passed on to the small intestine.
NobalTip: An adequate amount of fiber in your diet is essential for gut health
Small Intestine: The small intestine is, in fact, not small at all, nearly 21 feet long. These macronutrients are further broken down - fats, starches, and proteins are simplified to fatty acids, sugars, and amino acids. Bile helps digest fats; it's formed by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Enzymes created by the pancreas aid in digesting proteins, carbs, and fats. After the food is broken down, the intestines absorb the nutrients, and are passed through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to cells.
Large Intestine (Colon): The Large intestine is smaller than the small intestine, approximately 4 ft long and 3 inches wide. The remaining food is transported to the large intestine, moving along and through the rectum, disposing of waste. The bacteria that remain in the body assist the digestive process, creating fatty acids and gasses that can become nutrients.
Bowel movements: The waste that exits the body is water, colon bacteria, bile, mucus, cells, and indigestible food, such as fiber.
The digestive process is a cycle that keeps the body alive.