The Essential Guide to Understanding Your Digestive System

What is the digestive system?

The digestive system is one of the most diverse and complicated systems in the human body. It is made up of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) also called digestive tract, the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The GI tract includes a series of hollow organs: the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine also known as the gut, large intestine, and anus. The liver, pancreas, and gallbladder are the solid organs of the digestive system. All the organs work in harmony to transform the food and liquids you eat into nutrients which serve as energy for the body. Accordingly, if “food is medicine” then digesting your food is essential for growth, health and survival. This is a brief overview of the digestive system focusing only on the major parts.

What happens to the food you eat?

Digestion begins in the mouth, teeth chew up to reduce the size of food. Salivary secretions or spit turn food into wet mushy blobs that prepare the food to be swallowed. The food moves into the esophagus which is a tube that transports food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. Muscles in the stomach’s wall mix the food with acidic fluid and enzymes. When the food reaches the appropriate consistency and concentration, imagine a sloppy soup with all the nutrients still there, it passes into the small intestine (the gut) where most of the digestion and absorption takes place. Digestive juices from the pancreas, the liver and in the intestine facilitate a host of activities including water absorption, blood carries nutrients to the liver, nutrients get transported in the bloodstreams and deliver meals to all body parts: bones, organs, muscles, nerves and brain.

Next stop is the large intestine, where bacteria eat the leftovers, they absorb water and remaining substrates that the small intestine couldn’t. The large intestine provides temporary storage for waste, and changes the liquid waste into feces known as solid poop. The rectum is the lower end of the large intestine pushes feces out of the anus which controls bowel movement. Digestive Diseases

Digestive disease is any health problem that occurs in the digestive tract. Based on data from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) 60 to 70 million Americans are diagnosed with a digestive disease. Digestive diseases are one of the most prevalent causes of disability in the workforce. Emerging science is showing a strong connection between the digestive system, especially the gut and the brain. 70% of the immune system resides in the gut. (I will address that another time) When the gut is not well it sends signals to the brain via the Central Nervous System. Therefore, it is important to make healthy choices to keep your digestive system and the rest of your body healthy.

The following are some of the first sign of problems in the digestive tract, often includes one or more symptoms:

Below is a chart of digestive diseases and conditions, some are acute, lasting only a short time, while others are chronic, or long-lasting. Conditions may range from mild to serious.

How to care for the digestive system

Evidence shows that healthy dietary choices which include eating fruits and vegetables help keep the digestive system in good shape. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day. For example, all the activities taking place during digestion, absorption, transport, and excretion of nutrients require salivary and gastric secretions, secretions from the pancreas, small intestine and gallbladder contribute about 7 to 9 L of fluid in a day, about 3 to 4 times more fluid than what is normally consumed orally (Beyer, 2008). Do your part to help things move along by drinking enough water throughout the day. The best time to drink water is now, (granted that you are not eating your meal while scrolling or reading on the internet - be present in front of your plate). Other times are right when you wake up, before and between meals, before, during and after exercise, when you are sick, when you get a massage, before and during your period, before taking a nap, when you want to maintain a healthy weight, before going to bed, you get the point - drink your water. In addition, living mindfully, a stressful life, and a negative mindset will sabotage your healthy eating. To support your effort, keep a gratitude journal. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, people who are active have healthier digestive systems and get 7-8 hours of restful sleep every night. Another way you can help, especially if you are living with a digestive disease is by joining a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research studies performed in people with the goal to evaluate, test ways to prevent a health problem, or to find a disease early sometimes before there are symptoms - it can be medical, surgical or behavioral intervention. Clinical trials are the primary way that researchers find out if a new treatment, like a new drug, diet, vaccine, or medical device is safe and effective in people. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions. Check out the following video by NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trials https://youtu.be/36Sd8WpgR94 in addition, visit https://www.clinicaltrials.gov to find a study and speak with your health care providers to know if a clinical trial is right for you. Feel free to reach out to me if you want to learn more or have any questions on this educational post.

And remember, next time you poop, thank your digestive system. It’s doing its job!

References

Beyer, PL. (2008). Digestion, Absorption, Transport, and Excretion of Nutrients. Krause’s Food and Nutrition Therapy.

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Digestive Diseases. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007447.htm

NIH. Digestive System. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from www.cancer.gov

NIH. Your Digestive System & How it Works Retrieved from

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works