8.18.20 Lesson #1 Digestion Overview

I feel like I’ve been gone awhile from the nutrition world. I have been busy, but in all honesty I’ve just been lacking motivation to pursue nutrition. After a pep talk from my business partner (that’s my hubby!), I am ready to get my head back in the game and share with you all on a subject I’m especially passionate about: DIGESTION!

I feel like digestion is really a huge key in every aspect of our health. Every cell in our bodies are made up of nutrients that we eat and if we aren’t breaking down our food correctly it wreaks havoc at every level. Today I’d like to share with you just a few basics on what digestion is. Future posts will examine each stage more closely. I want everyone to understand how the process works so that you can make choices to improve your digestion, and your overall health!

What is digestion? “Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food. The goal of digestion is to reduce food molecules so small that the nutrients can be absorbed and used by the cells.”(NTA slides 2019) It is helpful to think of it as a North to South Process. It starts in the brain, uses 3 main organs (stomach, pancreas, and gallbladder), travels through the esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, takes 24 to 72 hours start to end, and burns about 10% of the calories you’ve consumed. From your mouth to your anus, it is a closed system like a garden hose, with a very specific amount of permeability at certain points.

If you aren’t convinced this is an important topic consider the following symptoms: bloating, acid reflux, burps, cramps, feeling overfull, gas, constipation, diarrhea, gallstones, diverticulitis, ulcers, hemorrhoids, liver issues, skin rashes, acne, weight gain/loss, insulin resistance, anemia, nausea, irritable bowel... Need I say more?! Please, follow me on this journey of learning how your digestion can better serve you!