The digestive system plays an important role in our health. It has been said that the digestive system is "one of the major interfaces between our inner world and outer world". Examples include the knot in the stomach when extreme upset arises or the butterflies in the stomach when nervousness appears. Both are reflections of the outer environment being expressed through the digestive system. Our good or bad health can be an accumulation of the quality, quantity and speed at which we eat our food. The cells of the body depend on efficient digestion that is robust in nutrients for energy and well-being.
The digestive system, also known as the food tube, measures longer in length than the entire the surface area of our skin. There are muscles, tissue, enzymes, glands, organs, nerves, hormones and shear intelligence that make up its functionality. The mouth, the last voluntary act of digestion, is the point of ingestion while the anus eliminates all that has not been absorbed or used by the body for nutrition. The mouth chews or masticates the food, while the stomach churns and mixes the food (mechanical digestion). Through chemical digestion (beginning in the mouth and continuing through to the small intestine) water and digestive enzymes break down the food (complex molecules) to be passed into the bloodstream. The movement of food through the "food tube" is automatic after leaving the mouth and propels through the digestive tract with the assistance of muscle tissue and acted on accordingly to the levels of acidity at eat organ. The enteric brain directs the show. The small intestine membranes pass along the simple molecules to the blood or lymph capillaries. The undigested portions now move into the colon where further movement, along with bacteria, form feces for defecation.
Food that cannot or is not broken down into a simple molecule for the small intestine to pass into the bloodstream offers no nutrient value. So to believe that we are what we eat only holds true if it is absorbed as a nutrient within the small intestines. Although the body manufactures approximately 22 digestive enzymes (capable of digesting protein, carbohydrates, sugar and fats), there can be a decrease in the production of these enzymes as we age. As a result the digestive system can be compromised. Specifically the acid and digestive enzymes of the stomach can reduce with age. This is just one of many considerations for digestive health. The use of enzyme supplements can be effective in enhancing the body's vitality and strengthening the digestive system.
Choosing the right healthy foods is kind of like writing your own personal RX prescription for food instead of drugs. The lack of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains is a food RX prescription for potential disease. These foods among other things manage dietary fiber which links to constipation and high levels of cholesterol. Chronic constipation is among the top six "dis-eases" reported in the 2004 "The Burden of Digestive Diseases" report by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Health.
Constipation can be caused by a number of different factors and conditions including poor diet (mentioned above), dehydration, food allergies, lack of exercise, poor posture, emotional upsets and anxiety, imbalances in the autonomic nervous system, drugs and medications, and the misuse of laxatives. All these factors should be addressed to determine the cause. Based on the Standard American Diet (SAD), poor diet is a good bet for the cause of constipation. Responsibility for improved bowel movement moves from the doctor's office or the hospital room to the kitchen in the household.
Sufficient amounts of the right type of dietary fiber can reduce the risks of certain cancers, diabetes, heart disease, and bowel disorders (like constipation). Fiber helps to lower high blood cholesterol and can stabilize blood sugar levels. Fiber's main job is to help the bowels function more efficiently by cleaning the intestines and adding more bulk to stool. A variety of fiber choices should be added to your personal food RX prescription for the highest benefit.
The current status of your digestive system, healthy or unhealthy, can benefit from the following recommendations:
• Eat whole, organic unprocessed foods with plenty of fiber: vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Eat real food, mostly plants, as Michael Pollan author of the Omnivore's Dilemma so simply put it.
• If you think you have food sensitivities try an elimination diet. Cut out gluten, dairy, yeast, corn, soy and eggs for a week or two and see how your gut feels and what happens to your other symptoms.
• Take digestive enzymes with your food.
• If you think you have food sensitivities try an elimination diet. Cut out gluten, dairy, yeast, corn, soy and eggs for a week or two and see how your gut feels and what happens to your other symptoms.
• Take digestive enzymes with your food.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darlene_Poe
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