Learn How to Keep Your Gut Clean, Healthy, and in Peak Function

Your Digestive System and your Health

Did you know your digestive system is like a “tube within a tube”? The digestive system is the inner tube while the rest of the body forms the outer tube. Remember this because your digestive system is exposed to the environment you ingest while the rest of your body has more protection.

The “tube” starts at the mouth and ends at the rectum. There are several organs and glands that aid in digestion along the way, playing an important role in the main function of the digestive system—and that function is to obtain the nutrients which provide the energy and the necessary building blocks for life and health. In order to do this, the digestive system (and accessory organs and glands) break down food into small pieces so the body can absorb the nutrients, and release the energy found in that food.

Parts of the Digestive System Tube

The digestive system consists of:

• Mouth: Chewing starts the processes of digestion by breaking up food into smaller particles, releasing enzymes in the saliva and moistening food, which makes it easier to swallow.
• Esophagus: The esophagus allows you to swallow food. A series of muscle contractions (peristalsis) pushes the food down the esophagus to the stomach.
• Stomach: The stomach produces acid to break down foods while churning and mixing the contents. Other digestive enzymes are also secreted into the stomach, producing a semi-liquid mixture known as chyme.
• Small Intestine: The small intestine is about 22 feet long. It is a folded muscular tube made up of three functionally distinct sections:
• Duodenum: The duodenum is about 10 inches long and essentially forms a “C”. The chyme from the stomach first enters the duodenum by a valve at the bottom part of the stomach. The chyme is highly acidic—this may be the reason that ulcers are often found in both the stomach and the duodenum. Pancreatic enzymes pour into the duodenum, reducing the acidity and digesting the contents more. Bile from the gall bladder, needed to digest and absorb fats, is added at this point. Minerals such as iron, magnesium and calcium are absorbed in this section of the small intestine.
• Jejunum: The jejunum is a coiled tube with a huge number of fingerlike projections called villi found on the inner surface. This allows the jejunum to absorb most of the nutrients. It is responsible for absorbing simple sugars, water-soluble vitamins (with the exception of Vitamin C) and digested proteins in the form of amino acids. Fat droplets that are formed with the help of bile are directly absorbed into the lymphatic system. Lymphatic vessels transport these fat droplets throughout the body. While not directly related to digestion, the lymphatic system also transports immune cells.
• Ileum: This is the last section of the small intestine and is responsible for absorbing amino acids, fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A, E, D and K, cholesterol, minerals and some B vitamins.
• Large Intestine: The large intestine is the last part of the digestive system and is responsible for absorbing water and concentrating and storing the waste. The large intestine is the area that hosts the gut bacteria—those bacteria that are needed for an ever-increasing number of benefits including immunity, weight control, and vitamin production. This waste includes fiber, water and un-absorbed materials. Fiber serves as food for the bacteria as well as bulk to make the waste easier to expel. The appendix, an immune organ, is also found near the large intestine. Waste, in the form of feces, is stored until a bowel movement can expel the waste.

Accessory Organs and Glands of the Digestive System

Accessory organs and glands of the digestive system are essential for digestion and absorption. Even though the term “accessory” is often to be understood as an extra, or a decoration—in this context, if any one of these organs or glands is missing or dysfunctional, serious problems can result. These organs and glands include:

• Liver: The liver has a wide variety of functions—it functions as a detoxifying organ, a storage organ, a bile-producing organ and a processing organ. The liver produces bile, necessary for fat digestion and absorption. The liver also stores sugar (glucose) in the form of glycogen. The liver also processes nutrients into useable forms and detoxifies xenobiotics and other environmental substances.
• Gallbladder: The gallbladder is a hollow sac that stores and concentrates bile. Bile is secreted into the duodenum and is essential for fat digestion and absorption.
• Pancreas: The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes such as lipase (to help digest fats), proteases (to digest proteins) and bicarbonate to help neutralize the acid mixture coming out of the stomach. The pancreas is also responsible for producing insulin, the hormone which allows blood sugar (glucose) to enter cells where it provides the primary source of cellular energy.

What Can You do to Support Your Digestive System?

The most important things you can do is, CHOOSE good real food instead of “garbage” foods. Whole foods contain the highest level of nutrients. Remember, part of the problem with processed foods is that the processing removes (or kills) nutrients. If you don’t provide yourself quality food – you simply won’t have the energy and nutrients you need for optimal health and wellness.

In addition to choosing whole foods such as, vegetables, fruits, high quality protein, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds, drink plenty of water to help your digestive system absorb nutrients and remove waste. (You should be drinking at least half your weight in ounces; so if you weigh 200 lbs, you should drive 100 oz of water every day).

Another area of digestion where you have control is at the beginning of digestion—at the mouth. Chew your food well, allowing the mechanical breakdown of food and the saliva to begin digesting the foods. Also maintain good oral health—evidence is accumulating that dental problems such as gum disease or cavities can be a warning signal about heart and vascular problems as well as problems in the immune system.

Try not to get discouraged or overwhelmed with good health habits. Good health comes from daily decisions. Choose one thing to improve. Do you need more water? More vegetables? Daily exercise? A goodnights sleep? A little alone time or meditation? YOU know where you can improve AND YOU have the power to transform your health … ONE healthy choice at a time!