This month we are focusing on gut health and before we begin we should talk about what is the gut?
We use the word gut to mean digestive system. However there are many other players within this system - did you know that digestion begins in your mind?
We also include the liver, pancreas, gall bladder, small and large intestine, mouth, teeth and stomach in the digestive system.
Throughout your entire digestive system, there is chemical and mechanical breakdown. Chemical breakdown is the enzymes produced to break down your food so nutrients can be absorbed for cells to function. Enzymes are produced from nutrients which is provided through our food.
Mechanical breakdown is the physical action of chewing and the peristaltic action of your muscles contracting and relaxing to push the food through your digestive system and out for elimination.
What happens in your gut?
Simply put, food once it enters your mouth is chewed and the process of breakdown begins, and the food lump is then known as a bolus. It passes down your oesophagus and into your stomach where the stomach acid and compressing action of your stomach muscles breaks the bolus further into what is known as chyme. By this stage the food is now a liquidy blend.
The chyme then passes into your small intestine where it is further broken down and nutrients are absorbed through your intestine walls into the blood stream before the chyme passes into the large intestine where the bacteria ferment any further nutrients and prepare the chyme for elimination.
Sounds elaborate? Well it certainly is! It is a vital system for the body which can play havoc if not working optimally.
Stay tuned for more information!