Gut Health Wellness Hub

Digestion is the process that occurs within the digestive system.

Your digestive system is a complex network of organs that manages the process of breaking food down into different compounds and passing out what we don’t need as waste.

This whole process takes one to three days.

Contrary to popular belief, our digestive system doesn’t absorb food - it absorbs nutrients, so the food we eat has to be broken down into amino acids from proteins, fatty acids from various fats and simple sugars from carbohydrates, as well as vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients.

This process is called digestion.

Your digestive system is made up of the digestive tract, also known as the gut, and other organs that help to break down and absorb food.

It works to break down food into the essential nutrients that are absorbed into the blood stream and are used for energy, growth and repair, otherwise called digestion.

The gut, also known as the gastrointestinal tract, is a long tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the back passage. 

The health of our gut is key to our overall health, which makes perfect sense as it is the organ system in charge of digesting the food that we eat!

The mouth, oesophagus, stomach and intestines work together to extract the energy and nutrients our body needs to thrive from it and then our rectum and anus get rid of any leftover waste.

Plus, it has over 100,000 nerve cells and is closely linked to our emotions, which is why we may get butterflies or diarrhoea when we’re feeling nervous or stressed.

We all have trillions of microorganisms from thousands of different species living inside of our bodies and their collective term is the microbiome.

Each person has a totally unique microbiome consisting of not only bacteria, but parasites, viruses and fungi too.

As time goes on, our microbiomes grow and change - and is influenced largely by our diet and environment. For example, when infants transition from milk to solid foods, their microbiome will be affected.

The microbiome plays a crucial role in our essential day-to-day bodily operations, but also has the potential to cause harm.

It’s all about balance and the bad bacteria tends to coexist in healthy people, however, problems tend to start when this balance starts to tip in favour of the harmful bacteria.

This is when symptoms of an unhealthy gut are likely to arise.

The human digestive system processes the food we eat and breaks down proteins into amino acids, fats into fatty acids, and carbohydrates into simple sugars. It also absorbs minerals, vitamins and other essential nutrients.

The whole process requires the cooperation of several organs which form a complex network to break down food into various compounds and then pass out what’s not needed as waste. The process of digestion takes 6 hours on average, but can take up to one day for heavier meals.

Our emotions are closely linked to the digestive system. It actually has over 100,000 nerve cells, which is why we may feel butterflies or suffer stomach issues when we feel stressed or nervous.

The mouth: Your teeth break down food into small pieces, while the sight and aromas of tasty food kicks the saliva glands into action. Saliva continues to break down food with the help of the enzyme amylase, which starts the process of turning carbohydrates into sugars.

However, if you talk while you eat or rush your meal, you can end up swallowing air, which can lead to bloating, flatulence or burping.

The oesophagus: When swallowed, food travels down the oesophagus to your stomach by automatic waves or contractions, also known as peristalsis.

The stomach: As food travels down the oesophagus, a signal is sent to the valve at the top of your stomach to open. When food reaches the stomach, gastric juices that contain stomach acid and enzymes that break down proteins transform it into a liquid called chyme. Chyme is then moved into your small intestine by peristalsis.

The small intestine: Also known as the duodenum or small bowel, the small intestine is where most nutrients are absorbed into your bloodstream. This process is carried out by minute, finger-like structures called villi, which line the small intestine walls.

The liver, gallbladder and pancreas: Bile is made in the liver, stored in your gallbladder and released into your small intestine so it can break down fats. At the same time, your pancreas creates enzymes that help the digestive system to break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates into small particles that can be absorbed into your bloodstream.

The large intestine: Finally, the large intestine, aka the large bowel or colon, absorbs remaining nutrients and water. This is the process that makes waste products solid and easier to pass – yes, we’re talking about poo! When enough waste builds up in the lowest part of the large intestine (the rectum), the body creates that urge to go to the loo.

One of the most common symptoms of indigestion is heartburn: chest pain from indigestion which creates an unpleasant burning sensation. This is caused by stomach acid travelling back up into your oesophagus. Smoking, stress, obesity and some medicines and foods can make heartburn more likely.

There are a few simple things that you can do to help relieve the symptoms of indigestion. One is making sure you keep well hydrated and another is making sure you fit some physical activity into your daily routine – exercise in general helps to increase friendly gut bacteria.