What You Need To Know About Food Digestion

Food digestion is an important part for good health. Many aliments & diseases can be attributed to poor digestion. How does digestive process work? Find out how and how to improve digestion.

The process of food digestion involves breaking down food into smaller components to become easily absorbed in the blood stream. Our saliva is mixed with the food when we chew & contains enzymes that begin to break it down. It goes into our digestive tract where there’s a fuel that burns the food.

Whether you eat, carbohydrates, protein or fat, the digestion process for each one is different.

Fat digestion:

Fat digestion begins in the small intestine where special enzymes in the pancreas (called pancreatic lipase) begin to break down the fat along with bile from the liver. This is why it’s important to have a strong liver and that your body is producing enough bile.

Protein digestion:

Protein digestion happens in the stomach. 3 types of enzymes called protease include pepsin, trypsin and chymotrysin which are secreted by the pancreas, this breaks down the protein with another enzyme erepsin into amino acids.

Carbohydrate digestion:

Starches are made up of glucose in units known as polysaccharide. During digestion glucose is broken down by salivary and pancreatic amylase enzymes which turns into simple sugars that can be absorbed by the small intestine.

When we eat we tend to combine foods improperly and eat foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. As a result people tend to suffer from common digestive issues such as gas, bloating, acid, bad breath etc…This happens when food does not digest properly. It ends up rotting in our system or sticking to our digestive walls causing constipation, and other issues.

Other common digestive problems include:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Acid Reflux

Heartburn

Constipation

Peptic Ulcers

Gallstones

Lactose Intolerance

These problems are also caused by

•Being overweight or obese

•Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or bending over at the waist

•Snacking close to bedtime or lying down right after a meal

•Taking aspirin or ibuprofen, some muscle relaxers, or certain blood pressure medications

•Exercise which may cause acid reflux by increasing the pressure in the abdominal cavity

To improve digestion try one of these natural digestive aids

Chamomile tea: relieves heartburn, indigestion, stress

Aloe Vera juice: aids digestion and soothes inflamed mucous membranes

Artichoke extract: good for upset stomach, digestion, and constipation

Betaine Hydrochloride: A hydrochloric acid made from beets that increases stomach acid . It’s one of the most effective supplements for indigestion caused by low stomach acid which leads to poor nutrient digestion and absorption and fatigue. This usually happens with people over the age of 50.

Ginger: Great for digestion, I enjoy drinking ginger tea and has helped me with digestion.

Peppermint: Also very good, again you can drink this in a teaParsely: Don’t put that garnish aside, eat it!

Burdock Root Slippery elm

Calcium and magnesium chewable tablets

Pro-biotics Remember not to drink while you eat, this slows down food digestion. If you're thirsty take a few sips while you eat. When you eat try not to combines proteins with carbohydrates. Instead eat it with plenty of vegetables. Fiber is great for improving digestion and constipation.

Eating plenty of raw fruit and vegetable are great for digestion. Pineapples are full of enzymes. If you have a hard time getting enough green in your diet then consider take wheat grass. It has amazing beneficial properties and full of enzymes.

Of course we don't eat well all the time and when we go out or eat food at a dinner party. If this happens then take enzyme supplements before and during your meal. After the meal have a cup a tea!

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