Complete Guide To Digestive Health

Josephine Spire

Description

The Digestive system plays a major role in our overall health, as it is the channel for nutrients our bodies require for survival. Without good digestive health, you will experience a host of uncomfortable conditions and life threatening illnesses. This is why digestive health is so important. This book is a perfect balance of science and practical advice. It explains how your digestive system works and what happens when it doesn't function properly. It also provides everything you need to take control of your general health, through close and careful attention to your digestive system.

Informations

• Publié par: Straightforward Publishing
• Date de parution: 28 juillet 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781802361612
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Complete Guide to
DIGESTIVE HEALTH
The Complete Guide to
DIGESTIVE HEALTH
Josephine Spire
Emerald Guides www.straightforwardco.co.uk
Emerald Guides
Josephine Spire 2022
Josephine Spire has asserted the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electronic or mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright holders.
ISBN: 978-1-80236-060-8 ePUB ISBN: 978-1-80236-161-2 Kindle ISBN: 978-1-80236-153-7
Printed by 4edge www.4edge.co.uk Cover design by BW Studio Derby Typeset by Frabjous Books
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within this book is correct at the time of going to press, the author and publisher can take no responsibility for the errors or omissions contained within.
CONTENTS
Introduction
PART 1 - THE DIGESTIVE PROCESS
Ingestion
Secretion
Digestion
Absorption
Excretion
How digestion works
PART 2 - PARTS OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
General
The mouth
The pharynx
The esophagus
The stomach
The small intestine
The large intestine
The rectum
The anus
The Pancreas
The liver
PART 3 - THE IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION IN DIGESTION
General
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Fats
Cholesterol and saturated fats
Micronutrients
Vitamins
Minerals
Digestion of minerals
Fibre
Soluble fibre
The benefits of fibre in the diet
Water
PART 4 - DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
General
Constipation
Diarrhea
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Heartburn
Indigestion
Crohn s disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Coeliac disease
Diverticulitis and diverticulosis disease
Cancers of the digestive system
Fatty liver disease
Symptoms of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD)
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Gallstones
Hemorrhoids (Piles)
Lactose intolerance
Allergies
Stomach ulcers
Food poisoning
The salmonella bacteria
PART 5 - ENEMIES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Alcohol
Smoking
A poor diet
Lack of exercise
Medication
Not drinking enough
Stress
Not getting enough sleep
PART 6 - KEEPING YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM HEALTHY
Eat a balanced diet
Eat a high-fiber diet
Drink plenty of fluids
Limit or cut out alcohol
Quit smoking
Keep up regular exercise
Seek help to manage your stress
Monitor your medication
Maintain your gut bacteria
Yoghurt
Oats
Whole grains
Lentils
Fruit and vegetables
Useful addresses
References and Resources
Index
INTRODUCTION
The digestive system is an especially important part of the body and without it, it would be impossible to get the nutrients we need to fuel our bodies for energy, growth, and repair.
Digestion is a mind-blowing and magnificent process which we tend to take for granted until it no longer works properly. To make sure that your body s digestive system has your support, you must eat healthily to avoid digestive problems that can occur due to a poor diet, unhealthy habits, and sensitivity to certain foods. It is often stated that eating is one of life s greatest pleasure, however, very few people know what exactly happens to that food once they have ingested it!
The fact that we can heal our bodies and indeed our digestive systems through eating the right diet is the best kept secret by the medical world. Truth is, we are what we eat. Our physical and mental well-being is linked to what we eat and drink. The nutritional content of what we eat in our diet determines the composition of our blood, tissue, organs, cell membranes, hormones, bone marrow, hair and skin. To fully understand how your body works, it is important that you acquire a basic knowledge of how your digestive system functions. A healthy diet not only aids better health for your digestive tract, but it also keeps the doctor at bay and makes you feel great.
Most people do not want to talk about their digestive issues, and rarely seek doctor s advice for the minor harmless conditions like heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and so forth. However, some digestive symptoms like diarrhea if left untreated for lengthy periods, can lead to more serious chronic diseases. And while some digestive problems can be managed with over-the-counter medicines and lifestyle changes, others can be profoundly serious and life threatening, requiring you to seek medical help from your doctor. This book is a perfect balance of science and practical advice. It explains clearly how your digestive system works and what happens when it does not function properly-providing everything you need to take control of your overall health through close, careful attention to your digestive system.
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PART 1
The Digestive Process
T he digestive system is responsible for taking in and breaking down foods, and turning them into nutrients for energy. These nutrients are essential for the body to function, grow and repair. The food and drink we consume has to be broken down into smaller nutrients which are made up of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins, before the blood can absorb them to be utilized by the body. The main processes of the digestive system are ingestion of food, secretion of fluids and digestive enzymes, mixing and movement of food and waste, digestion, or breakdown of food into smaller pieces, absorption of nutrients and excretion or elimination of waste by-products.
Ingestion: Obtaining nutrition and energy from food is a multi-step process. The first step is ingestion, the act of taking in food and drink through the mouth.
Secretion: The digestive system secretes around 7 liters of fluids every day. In the gastrointestinal tract, these fluids include saliva, mucus, hydrochloric acid, bile, and enzymes. Saliva from the salivary glands in the mouth moistens dry food and contains salivary amylase, a digestive enzyme that begins the digestion of carbohydrates. Mucus aids as a protective barrier and lubricant inside of the GI tract. Hydrochloric acid performs two functions in the digestive tract: the first function is to digest food chemically and the second is to protect the body by killing bacteria which may be present in our food. Bile on the other hand is used to emulsify lipids into tiny globules for easy digestion.
Churning and Movement: Mixing and moving the ingested food involves three processes which include swallowing, peristalsis, and segmentation. The swallowing process utilizes both smooth and skeletal muscles in the mouth, tongue, and pharynx to push food into the pharynx, and into the esophagus. Peristalsis involves transporting food and other substances down the GI tract via muscular waves that travels the length of the GI tract. It takes numerous peristaltic waves for food to travel from the esophagus to the stomach and intestines and reach the other end of the GI tract.
Segmentation is another process that occurs only in the small intestine. They occur as short segments of the intestine contract. Segmentation helps to increase the absorption of nutrients and other materials by mixing food, thereby increasing its contact with the walls of the intestine.
Digestion: Digestion is the process of turning large particles of food into smaller particles. This process involves both mechanical and chemical processes. Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of large particles of food into smaller pieces. This begins with the chewing of food by the teeth and continues through the muscular mixing of food by the stomach and intestines. Bile produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder is also used to chemically break fats or lipids into smaller globules.
Mechanical digestion is accompanied by chemical digestion. Food is chemically digested as larger and more complex molecules are being broken down into smaller molecules that are much easier to absorb. Chemical digestion also begins in the mouth with the salivary glands secreting saliva that contains salivary amylase. The amylase helps to split complex carbohydrates into simple carbohydrates, while the acid and enzymes found in the stomach continue with the chemical digestion.
However, the bulk of chemical digestion takes place in the small intestine aided by the pancreatic secretions. This pancreatic juice contains numerous enzymes which are proficient in digesting lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids. By the time the food leaves the first section of the small intestines in the duodenum part, it has been reduced to its basic chemical building blocks; composed of fatty acids, amino acids, monosaccharides, and nucleotides.
Absorption: Once food has been broken down into small particles, it s ready to be absorbed. Absorption begins in the stomach with molecules like water, which is then absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Most of the absorption takes place in the walls of the small intestine. The folds in the intestine allows for greater surface area, facilitating the food to stay in longer contact with the intestinal wall. The small blood and lymphatic vessels located in the intestinal wall pick up the molecules and carry them the rest of the body. The large intestine is also involved in the absorption of water, vitamins B and K before the feces leave the body through elimination.
Excretion: The final function of the digestive system is the excretion or elimination of waste in a process known as defecation. Defecation removes indigestible substances from the body so that they do not accumulate inside the lower gastrointestinal tract. This process is controlled voluntarily by the brain, and must occur on a regular basis to prevent the backup of indigestible materials.
How digestion works
Digestion involves the mixing of food, its movement through the digestive tract, and the chemical breakdown of the large molecules of food into smaller molecules. Digestion begins in the mouth