Why should we take notice of our digestive system?
Most of us do not pay much attention to our digestive system as we take our body for granted for its capability of processing any type of food that we may ingest. Our body is remarkable in protecting us from continuous consumption of adverse foods to its best but then expresses symptoms of nutritional abuse (such as gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, etc.) to caution us of how our eating pattern affects us.
Our digestive system is important as it plays a crucial function in converting the macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) into smaller bits that can be easily absorbed and assimilated to provide us with energy and basic nutrients for growth and cell repair. The organs involved in digestion include the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The process of digestion involves ingestion, mechanical and chemical digestion, absorption, and excretion. The important accessories to our digestive system are the liver (which produces bile for fat digestion and stored excess carbohydrates as glycogen) and the pancreas (which produces digestive juices and insulin to control blood sugar levels). Most of the digestion takes place in the mouth and stomach while the small intestine is responsible for the absorption of approximately 90% of the digested foods. The large intestine harbors our microbiome which is responsible for producing useful nutrients that strengthen our immune system, xenobiotic and drug metabolism, maintenance of gut mucosal barrier, and protection against pathogens.
Some examples of food digestion issues include:
- · Discomfort because of lactose intolerance caused by the lack of enzyme lactase resulting in an inability to process milk products.
- · Acid reflux causes heartburn because of the weakening of the lower oesophageal sphincter.
- · Gluten intolerance where gluten, a protein in some grains such as wheat, barley, and rye, is not digested and ferments resulting in discomfort and pain. The condition is called Coeliac disease.
It is therefore important that we pay notice to our digestive system and alleviate any problems that are related to our diet. For more details refer to Chapter 2 in my book Science of Food Nutrition and Health.
Keep up with healthy eating and healthy living.
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