Our bodies are fascinating and complex, and understanding the digestive system is important to obtaining optimal health. We know that your bodies need food to provide it with energy, vitamins, and minerals. But did you also know that in order to use food, we
must first break it down into substances that the various organs and cells in our body can use? This is the job of our digestive system which consists of esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus. Digestion begins much earlier than you might think. It starts in the mouth, where the teeth break up food and mix it with saliva. Salivary enzymes initiate the breakdown of food into usable forms, particularly the initial digestion of fat and starch.
The stomach mechanically churns food, breaks up and emulsifies fat, and exposes the molecules to multiple enzymes such as hydrochloric acid and pancreatic juices. The resulting semi-digested slurry is passed from the stomach to the small intestine, whose membranous surface could cover a football field if stretched flat. The small intestine is filled with billions of bacteria (some three and a half pounds — equal in size and functional importance to a major organ) some friendly, some not. Friendly bacteria promote good health and protect the body from the unfriendly bacteria. As digestion continues, the food is propelled from organ to organ through muscular contractions called peristalsis.
The connection between all of the organs of GI tract and their fluids requires a delicate balance that can easily be disrupted by numerous factors, including diet, stress, disease, and more. If it happens you can experience myriad symptoms, such as those below.
- Bloating, belching, burning, flatulence after meals
- A sense of fullness after eating
- Indigestion, diarrhea, constipation
- Systemic reactions after eating
- Nausea or diarrhea after taking supplements
- Rectal itching
- Weak or cracked finger nails
- Dilated capillaries in the cheeks and nose in a non-alcoholic
- Post-adolescent acne or other skin irritations such as rosacea
- Iron deficiency
- Chronic intestinal infections, parasites, yeast, unfriendly bacteria
- Undigested food in the stool
- Greasy stools
- Skin that’s easily bruised
- Fatigue
- Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation)
- Chronic vaginitis (vaginal irritation)
- Joint pain
- Loss of libido
To maintain the proper balance in your gut, you first need to understand what causes disruption. Some of the most common contributors are:
- Stress
- An unhealthy or imbalanced diet,
- Food allergies or sensitivities
- Frequent antibiotic or drug therapy
- Suppressed immune system
- Intestinal infections
- Parasite infestation
- Inflammation
How we can help?
If you want to find out more information, contact us today at our Ambler, PA physical therapy clinic to make an appointment with one of our specialists at Polishuk Physical Therapy.
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