How Does the Gut Work?
I always talk about ‘the gut’ around here … but what does that actually mean? Let’s find out!
Understanding how the gut works can help us keep things running more smoothly. The gut effectively is our digestive system as a whole. The body works together like a machine - if one part isn’t working right it can lead to a cascade of problems. Each part of the digestive system affects the next. The digestive tract includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. Just as important are the accessory digestive organs which include the liver, gallbladder and the pancreas.
What are the parts of the digestive system and what do they do?
The mouth + teeth break down food into small pieces and mixes them with saliva which contains digestive enzymes + antibodies. The beginning of the digestive process.
The esophagus is the passageway that propels food down to the stomach. It’s lined with mucus for protection.
The stomach secretes acid and digestive enzymes which further dilute and break up the food, digest proteins, kill off the majority of bacteria in the food and deliver the pulpy acidic fluid little by little into the small intestine. It can take 4-6 hours for our stomach to empty.
The small intestine is the body’s major digestive organ where chemical digestion begins. Nearly all food absorption of nutrients and minerals occurs here. The protein, fat and carbohydrate are broken down into amino acids (building blocks of protein), sugars and fatty acids, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.
The colon or large intestine is where indigestible foods + large amounts of bacteria arrive from the small intestine. The large intestine absorbs water and electrolytes, produces and absorbs vitamins, and eliminates residue as feces.
Accessory digestive organs
The pancreas is a digestive gland that secretes digestive enzymes that break down protein, fat and carbohydrates. These work along with bile from the liver and gallbladder to help break down substances for proper digestion and absorption. The pancreas also secretes the hormone insulin.
The liver is the largest gland in the body. It receives blood from the gut, filters it, removes toxins, metabolizes drugs and stores nutrients. The liver also produces bile which is sent to the gallbladder.
The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile. Hormones trigger the release of bile into the small intestine, where it helps to digest fat.
What is something new you learned about the digestive system?
xo erin
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