Optimizing Digestion for Better Health
Understanding Digestion: The Key to Overall Wellness
Optimal digestion is crucial for maintaining good health. Digestion involves the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into molecules small enough for nutrient absorption by the cells. If our digestive function is compromised, it can impact all other bodily functions.
How Digestion Works
The digestion process is a north-to-south journey that begins in your brain. When you see or smell food, it triggers your brain to start the digestive process by producing saliva. This response helps start the breakdown of carbohydrates, like pasta and whole grain bread, as soon as you begin chewing. This combination of chewing and saliva makes the food easier to swallow and pass down your oesophagus into your stomach.
At the entrance of the stomach, the oesophageal sphincter acts as a one-way valve allowing food to enter while keeping stomach contents from refluxing upwards. Inside the stomach, food is transformed into a substance called bolus which is then churned and bathed in hydrochloric acid to break down pathogens and bacteria, preventing illness.
As the stomach reaches the necessary acidity, typically a pH between 1.5 and 3, the bolus becomes chyme—a highly acidic liquid—and passes through the pyloric valve into the duodenum, the start of the small intestine. If the stomach’s acid levels are insufficient, the pyloric valve may open prematurely, causing discomfort and pain in the digestive tract.
In the duodenum, digestion of fats begins with the release of bile from the gallbladder, while the pancreas produces bicarbonate to neutralize the acid and enzymes to further digest the food. The chyme is then processed into small, absorbable substances that pass through to the jejunum and ileum where nutrient absorption occurs. Unabsorbed matter continues into the large intestine, where waste formation begins.
The Role of the Large Intestine
In the large intestine, substances like bile and saliva are recycled before waste is formed through the transverse to descending colon, and finally expelled through muscular contractions known as peristalsis.
Digestion is a complex process from brain to tail, involving multiple organs and functions, all crucial for breaking down food into essential nutrients.
Book Your Digestive Health Consultation
Understanding and supporting your digestion can lead to significant health improvements. If you’re experiencing digestive issues or simply want to maintain optimal health, book an appointment with us today. Let’s optimize your digestive health together, ensuring your body efficiently absorbs the nutrients it needs.
