The digestive system is the means by which the body transforms food into the energy it needs to build, repair and fuel itself. On average, an adult body processes roughly 2-1/2 gallons of digested food, liquids and digestive secretions each day.
Digestion begins in the mouth, where food is chewed by the teeth and mixed with saliva. The saliva helps lubricate both the mouth and the food and dissolves food particles to enhance taste and facilitate swallowing. Saliva cleanses the mouth. Chewing is important because as food is ground into fine particles for digestive juices containing enzymes can mix with it. The more thoroughly food is chewed; the more complete the digestive functions are that occur at this point.
Once food is swallowed, it travels through the throat or pharynx to the esophagus. Both the pharynx and the esophagus are muscular tubes that work through a series of contractions to move the food along and eventually empty it into the stomach. The stomach then churns it into a paste called chyme, which is easier to digest. Some of the components of the food, such as water and sugar, are absorbed directly from the stomach into the bloodstream.
The next stop is the pyloric sphincter, which serves as the gateway to the small intestines. The digestion of starches, proteins and fat occurs in the small intestine with the help of secretions that originate in the pancreas, liver and intestinal villi.
How different nutrients are digested
Carbohydrates (starches and sugars), proteins and fats are made up of extremely complex molecules that must be broken down or digested in order to be useful to the body. The process of digestion changes starches and complex sugars into simple sugars, proteins into amino acids and fats into fatty acids and glycerin. In these forms the nutrients can finally be absorbed into the bloodstream
The digestion of carbohydrates begins in the mouth. Saliva contains the enzyme ptyalin, which changes some of the starches into sugar and makes them available to the bloodstream. The process continues in the stomach.
Proteins begin the digestive process only after reaching the stomach. This is due to the presence of hydrochloric acid and an enzyme called pepsin. Only a small amount of absorption occurs between the stomach and the bloodstream; most of it takes place after the contents have moved on to the small intestine where it is met by pancreatic secretions that contain the enzymes amylase, trypsin and lipase. Amylase works to change starch into simple sugars, trypsin breaks down partially digested proteins and lipase splits fats into fatty acids and glycerin.
The intestinal walls produce secretions that are milder than pancreatic juices to perform similar functions. Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder then flows into the small intestine through the bile duct. Bile helps to digest and absorb fats. The liver stores fats, carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins. It absorbs poisons and toxic substances before neutralizing them.
About 90 percent of absorption takes place in the small intestine. Food is digested when it has been broken down into particles small enough to be absorbed by the tiny blood and lymph capillaries located in the walls of the small intestine. From there the nourishment is circulated to all the cells in the body.
Factors in digestive health
There are many ways to abuse and weaken the digestive system. Overeating, constant snacking and diluting digestive secretions with liquids can all place undue stress on digestive organs. Eating too fast or feelings of emotional stress may adversely affect digestion. As people age, the amount of hydrochloric acid (HCl) their bodies produce decreases The decrease starts between ages 35–45. By age 55, almost everyone has reduced levels of HCl.
Heredity may be a factor in digestive health. Some people begin life with digestive organs predisposed to problems. When this is the case, any kind of abuse only compounds the problem.
The importance of enzymes
Enzymes are the catalysts of all chemical changes that occur in the body. They are found in both the food we eat and in our bodies. Without enzymes, body functions would be too slow to sustain life. Enzymes are absolutely essential, each person is born with a limited potential for enzymes. That’s why maintaining an adequate supply of enzymes plays such an important role in supporting the health of the body.
When the enzymes that exist naturally in foods are destroyed by heat, wilting or other abuse prior to digestion, the body must create new ones before it can properly digest the food. One of the best ways to help maintain a healthy supply of enzymes in the digestive system is to eat fresh, raw fruits and vegetables as often as possible. In addition to the enzymes these foods contain, fruits and vegetables are a rich source of the vital coenzymes (vitamins) needed by the body on a constant basis.
Digestive Enzymes & Their Work
| Region | Time | Enzymes | Action |
| Mouth | minutes | ptyalin | starch to malt sugar |
| Pharynx | seconds | ||
| Esophagus | 5-10 seconds for solids; 1 second for liquids | ||
| Stomach | 2-6 hours | pepsin | proteins to peptones acts on milk protein |
| Small intestine | 5-6 hours | Various enzymes acting on carbohydrates | maltose to simple sugars, mainly glucose |
| From pancreas | trypsin, amylase, lipase | turns proteins into amino acids, starch to maltose, fats to fatty acids and glycerol | |
| From liver/ Gallbladder | bile | fats water-soluble |
What Are Enzymes?
Enzymes are complex organic substances produced in plants and animals that catalyze (speed up) chemical reactions in cells and organs The digestive enzymes work with the body fluids to break down large chemical chains into smaller particles. The body is then able to absorb and utilize these smaller food particles.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Food should not be in your digestive system for more than 24 hours.
- As we age, our bodies produce less hydrochloric acid.
- About 90 percent of the absorption of nutrients occurs when food is in the small intestine.
Digestive enzymes break down food into smaller particles that can be utilized for energy or for building blocks. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain active enzymes that help in this process. Pineapple contains bromelain, which helps in the digestion of protein. Pineapple is commonly served at Brazilian barbecues to aid in the digestion of meats, break down starches and fats. It contains betaine hydrochloride, bile salts, bromelain, lipase, alpha-amylase, pancreatin, papain and pepsin.
Proactazyme Plus blends amylase, glucoamylase, lipase, cellulase, invertase, malt diastase, alpha galactosidase and peptidase. It helps the body digest all types of food—sugars, vegetable fibers, long-chain starches, fats and proteins. All of the enzymes are plant-sourced, meaning it is vegetarian friendly.
| ENZYMES: | OTHER PRODUCTS: |
| Food Enzymes for all digestion Hi Lapse for fat digestion Lactose Plus for dairy digestion Nattozimes Plus for fibrins PDA for hydrochloric acid Protease High Potency Incomplete digestion Protease Plus Incomplete digestion | Activated Charcoal Anti Gas Formula with Lobelia Anti-Gas, Chinese Catnip & Fennel (liquid) Ginger Liquid Chlorophyll Papaya Mint Chewables Peppermint Oil Spleen Activator Stomach Comfort |
There are many more products that can work that aren’t listed in this article.
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