"You are what you eat".Yes you have heard this lots, but how many of us fully understand the importance what this means? Food nourishes the body by providing nutrients that are essential for the functioning of the heart, nerves, muscles, and glands. It is also responsible for the maintenance of our organs and systems, growth and tissue repair. So essentially without food, the human body could not survive, and therefore our state of health is largely contributed to what we chose to eat.
The digestive tract is a series of hollow organs comprising of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine—also called the colon—rectum, and anus. There are also 2 solid organs, the liver and pancreas, that play a role in the digestive system by producing digestive juices and enzymes, all of which are responsible for the breaking down and elimination of our food.
The process begins with the mouth and ends with the anus. Once we place food into our mouth the process begins by the secretion of saliva which moistens the food enabling its entry into the oesophagus (a hollow tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). Once it has reached the stomach the chemical transformation of food begins. Acidic gastric juices are secreted here turning the food into a soft mixture allowing it to pass through slowly into the small intestine.
Once in the small intestine, where most of the digestion occurs, the two solid organs that are attached to it - the liver and pancreas - aid the chemical breakdown by secreting digestive juices and enzymes through ducts. While the liver (the largest gland in the body) has many functions, its main one is to produce bile salts which help absorb fats, and the pancreas enzymes break down proteins, carbohydrates and fats into compounds for further processing. During the food's journey through the small intestine, the nutrients are absorbed through the cells that line the intestine and delivered to the cells of the bloodstream and lymph system.
Once it has passed through the small intestine what is left is passed on into the large intestine - or colon. The colon frames the small intestine and comprises of four parts that lead to the muscular rectum which connects to the anus for elimination.
You can assist in this process by relaxing after you have eaten. Adrenaline relaxes the muscle of the stomach and intestine and decreases the flow of blood to the organs, slowing or stopping digestion. While this is part of the normal process working in conjunction with another nerve regulator and hormones, movement only increases this effect, making the digestive process more difficult and slow.
So ensuring that you eat foods rich in nutrients, slowly chewing your food, and relaxing after you have eaten, all help your digestive system perform its processes which invariably puts a lot less stress on your body resulting in better health.
Watch this You tube link for details on how your digestive system works
Digestive System Issues.
Each section of the digestive tract can have its own related problems. Some of the most common ailments are:• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Increased Gas
• Bloating
• Fatigue
Resolving gastrointestinal problems does not just improve your immediate quality of life by eliminating unpleasant symptoms — it also promotes good health.
Reflexology & Massage therapies are particularly good at helping promote better health for people suffering from digestive disorders.
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