Your gut is a silent food-processor. It is actually on the job all the time. It receives and breaks down what you need and eliminates what you do not need. The digestive system may appear more complex than you may imagine. But the basics are easy to comprehend. 

You only need to understand the mechanism of operation. Then, you can appreciate your body more and know when something feels off.

It all starts in your mouth

Digestion starts anytime you eat. Your teeth chop the food into small bits. At the same time, your saliva begins to dissolve and soften it. This makes it easier to swallow. In addition, it provides your gut an advantage. You need to chew your food properly. That simplifies the work of your digestive system.

The esophagus pushes the food down

Once you swallow, food goes down through a long tube. This is the esophagus. It links your throat and stomach. You may wonder how the food goes down. It happens through peristalsis. This is a waving motion of the muscles along the esophagus that pushes food down. You do not even realize it is going on.

The stomach blends the food

Food goes further into your stomach. Your stomach is filled with tough muscles and strong acids. They mash and dissolve your food. Imagine a hot, muscular blender.

It is here that your body starts to take the proteins apart. This is to enable you to use them to build the muscles, hormones, and other necessary structures you need. Your stomach is busy after a meal.

The magic happens in the small intestine

Your small intestine is not so little. It is nearly 20 feet in length when extended. This is where most of the heavy lifting happens in your digestive system. With the liquid food passing through, this is what happens:

• Your pancreas supplies enzymes.
• Your liver pumps out bile. This helps digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

Your small intestine distributes more of the nutrients required by your body. This long, winding tube puts:

• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Proteins
• Carbs
• Healthy fats

…into your bloodstream.

Consider it the primary pick-up area of your body. The good stuff is gathered there and dispatched wherever it is needed.

The large intestine cleans everything up

Your small intestine doesn’t absorb everything. What it fails to absorb goes to your large intestine. Two main things happen here:

• Water is removed
• Your waste is solidified. 

The bacteria in your colon form a component of your internal ecosystem. They help decompose remnants of food. They also contribute to your immune system. Waikato gastroenterology experts often look closely at the balance of bacteria in your gut because it plays such a big role in:

• Inflammation
• Immunity
• Overall digestion.

With that, waste is prepared to leave your body. Your large intestine transports it along until it is expelled. And with that, the process starts again the next time you eat.

The last reflection

It is good to know how your gut works. Hence, you can make healthy choices and appreciate it a little bit more every day.

Source: https://drginasam.net/