Gut Check: Unlocking the Secrets to Digestive Health
Introduction of the Digestive System
The digestive system is a complex net of organs that are responsible for digesting food. It shows significance to the body because it extracts essential nutrients from food, which are used for energy, strength, and overall health. It has 5 main organs, which are the following: mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine. The mouth is where the digestion begins. It causes food to break apart through the form of chewing and the mixture of saliva. On the other hand, the esophagus is a tube-like tunnel where food gets transported from the mouth to the stomach. Afterwards, it goes to the stomach where it gets broken down even more with the usage of gastric juices, turning into a semi-liquid substance called “chyme.” Now, onto the small intestine where most nutrients are absorbed, are aided by the usage of enzymes coming from the pancreas, and bile from the liver. Lastly, it then passes through the large intestine where most of the water and electrolytes are absorbed forming waste for elimination.
Diseases that can be Acquired Due to Poor Digestion Health
As mentioned, the digestive system is a major aspect of the body, and if not taken care of it may cause the following: acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, gastroenteritis, diverticulitis, celiac disease, gallstones, and liver disease. To start with, acid reflux is defined as when stomach acid flows back to the esophagus due to the food not being able to digest properly. This often results in heartburn, chest pain, and stomach discomfort. On the other hand, irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a condition that affects the large intestine which as a result causes symptoms like bloating, cramping, and change of bowel movements. Moving on, constipation refers to the difficulty in bowel movements, often due to the lack of hydration or in some cases fiber. Gastroenteritis or in other words stomach flu occurs when the stomach and intestines are inflamed. It can cause diseases such as belly pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Furthermore, diverticulitis refers to the inflation or infection of small pouches that can form in the colon. It may cause sudden intense pain in the lower left abdomen, but in some cases, it can cause nausea, fever, diarrhea, constipation, and change in stool. Moreover, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, generated by gluten, leading to damage in the small intestine. Symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue, nutritional deficiency, skin rash, joint pain, and growth are some symptoms that can occur when acquired. Additionally, Gallstones are hard deposits that form in the gallbladder, often because of the imbalance in bile. Lastly, we have liver diseases. Liver diseases such as a fatty liver may arise from poor diet and lifestyle choices. Symptoms such as yellow skin, dark urine, edema, appetite loss, and weight loss may occur.
Ways to Properly Manage a Good Digestive System
After knowing the effects of acquiring a poor digestion health, let us learn how to properly take care of it. Several ways such as having a balanced diet, regular exercise, eating discipline, and regular check-ups can make a big difference when it comes to digestive health. Having a balanced diet can make one’s digestion better in terms of acquiring fiber to build up needed good bacteria and proper gut health. Moving on, regular exercise helps with digestion due to the reason that it helps stimulate muscles in the digestive tract, allowing efficient movement of the undigested food. Moreover, eating discipline is important because it allows one to put a limit on meals that either aren’t good for their health, or have already consumed a number of them. Unhealthy and too much of a certain food can cause an unbalanced diet, which in result may cause major digestive issues as mentioned. At last, regular checkups are as well significant in one’s digestive health. It is important to know one’s body state through checkups so that they may prevent any major issues that might occur, as well as may tackle the health problem while it’s still curable.