You eat daily, several times a day. Once swallowed, have you ever wondered what happens to food in your body? Read our article to understand how your digestive system works.
Why do we digest?
Digestion converts the food we eat into nutrients that the body can absorb. Thanks to this process, what we put on our plate is transformed into carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins or minerals and trace elements. All this provides our body with the necessary energy and nutrients it needs to build and renew the billions of cells that make it up.
Digestion is a long process that lasts, when everything is going well, about 24 hours. A duration that can lengthen following a meal that is a little too rich. The food spends 4 hours in the stomach, then 6 to 7 hours each time, in the small intestine, the large intestine and the rectum.
Digestion: the long journey of food
Digestion begins with chewing. As the teeth break food into small pieces, saliva facilitates swallowing and begins the chemical digestion of carbohydrates through enzymes called “amylases”. The food then descends into the esophagus, a tube about 25 cm long, leading to the stomach.
Once the food has reached it, the stomach contracts to crush and break down this food bolus with the help of gastric juices, a mixture of enzymes and hydrochloric acid secreted by stomach cells. When the food bolus is liquefied and transformed into chyme, it empties into the small intestine.
The small intestine follows the stomach and descends to the large intestine. It is the longest organ of the digestive tract since it is about 7 meters long. This is where most of the digestion takes place. Food is broken down into nutrients through new digestive juices secreted by the gallbladder, pancreas and intestine itself. Fats are dissolved with the help of bile produced by the liver. Contractions of the small intestine (called "intestinal peristalsis") push the chyme forward. Thus, the body gradually absorbs the different nutrients through the cells of the wall. After being assimilated by the small intestine, the nutrients useful to the body circulate in the blood vessels to be distributed to the various organs of the body. Only the indigestible matter, mainly dietary fibre, and some of the water it traps, continues its way to the large intestine.
The large intestine is shorter than the small intestine. It measures about a meter and a half. Its role is to collect the water that remains in the indigestible matter, then to compact it in the form of stool. This waste is then stored in the rectum until it is evacuated through the anus. This is the end of the digestion process.
To carry out its mission, our digestive system is supported by our intestinal microbiota , another name for the intestinal flora. Located in the small intestine and the colon, it is composed of various bacteria capable of completing the digestion of fibers and certain proteins. A dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota can cause a certain sensitivity and ultimately digestive disorders.
The different digestive disorders
Digestion problems are varied and affect 15 to 20% of French people. Among the most common disorders, there are heartburn, cramps and heartburn, regurgitation, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. Most often benign, these intestinal discomforts can however be annoying.
These inconveniences can be linked to our lifestyle: poor diet, a peak of stress or fatigue , a lack of water or physical activity. They can also have a pathological origin: an infection such as gastroenteritis, a food allergy or intolerance, or even a digestive disease such as Crohn's disease.
If the pain persists or is disabling on a daily basis, talk to your healthcare professional who may be able to refer you to a gastroenterologist. Some disorders require appropriate treatment.
How to facilitate digestion?
Simple and effective solutions exist to naturally improve digestion .
- On the plate: promote soluble fibers such as carrots, zucchini, sweet potato or oatmeal
- avoid as much as possible fatty foods, too spicy and vegetables that ferment like cabbage or artichoke.
You should also know that the most common intolerances are due to lactose and gluten. If you consume milk every day and suffer from regular bloating, you may be lactose intolerant. In general, try to note when you have the impression that a food causes digestive upset. Then check if there is an improvement in digestive signs after avoiding the foods in question for at least three weeks. But before starting a total elimination diet, talk to your doctor!
As for drinks, beware of carbonated drinks which can accentuate heartburn. Prefer water, at least 1.5 liters per day.
The way we eat is also crucial in the digestive process! It is important to take the time to chew well before swallowing. Keep in mind that a meal should last at least 20 minutes. The ideal is to take three meals a day, at regular times, seated and in a calm environment.
As for physical activity, gentle practices such as the Pilates method and yoga are often recommended in the event of digestive disorders.
Finally, dietary supplements can help aid digestion. GASTRIPROTECT , a phyto-micronutritional complex formulated with high quality and specific active ingredients helps to find real digestive comfort. It contains lacto-fermented soy powder, plant extracts (artichoke, broccoli), calcium and magnesium which work synergistically to soothe stomach upsets.
The BACTIVIT COMFORT dietary supplement is also a valuable ally. It acts on the overall balance of the intestinal microbiota thanks to a unique combination of microbiotic strains and fibers of natural origin.
