The Digestive System:

Most people I would say have heard the saying "You are what you eat". But how many of us fully understand the importance to this statement? To keep it basic, food nourishes the body by providing nutrients that are essential for the functioning of the heart, nerves, muscles, and glands. It is also responsible for the maintenance of our organs and systems, growth and tissue repair. So essentially without food, the human body could not survive, and therefore our state of health is largely contributed to what we chose to eat.

The digestive tract is a series of hollow organs comprising of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine—also called the colon—rectum, and anus. There are also 2 solid organs, the liver and pancreas, that play a role in the digestive system by producing digestive juices and enzymes, all of which are responsible for the breaking down and elimination of our food.

The process begins with the mouth and ends with the anus. Once we place food into our mouths the process begins by the secretion of saliva which moistens the food enabling its entry into the oesophagus (a hollow tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). Once it has reached the stomach the chemical transformation of food begins. Very strong acidic gastric juices are secreted here turning the food into a soft mixture allowing it to pass through slowly into the small intestine.

Once in the small intestine, where most of the digestion occurs, the two solid organs that are attached to it - the liver and pancreas - aid the chemical breakdown by secreting digestive juices and enzymes through ducts. While the liver (the largest gland in the body) has many functions, its main one is to produce bile salts which help absorb fats, and the pancreas enzymes break down proteins, carbohydrates and fats into compounds for further processing. During the food's journey through the small intestine, the nutrients are absorbed through the cells that line the intestine and delivered to the cells of the bloodstream and lymph system.

Once it has passed through the small intestine what is left is passed on into the large intestine - or colon. The colon frames the small intestine and comprises of 4 parts that lead to the muscular rectum which connects to the anus for elimination.

You can also play a conscious part in aiding your digestive system by relaxing after you have eaten. Adrenaline relaxes the muscle of the stomach and intestine and decreases the flow of blood to the organs, slowing or stopping digestion. While this is part of the normal process working in conjunction with another nerve regulator and hormones, movement only increases this effect, making the digestive process more difficult and slow.

So eating foods rich in nutrients, eating slowly chewing your food, and relaxing after you have eaten, all help your digestive system perform its amazing process which invariably puts a lot less stress on your body resulting in better health.

A good website that goes into non complicated detail all about the digestive system is: Your Digestive System and How It Works

 

Digestive System Problems:

Each section of the digestive tract can have its own related problems, and most of them today can be cured without too much difficulty. Some of the most common ailments are:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Increased Gas
Bloating after eating
Fatigue

According to Women to Women: Digestive problems often cause poor absorption of the nutrients our bodies need to maintain good health. The resulting nutritional deficiencies contribute to an increased risk of chronic disease (for more information, read our article on health and vitamins.) Resolving gastrointestinal (GI) problems does not just improve your immediate quality of life by eliminating unpleasant symptoms — it also promotes long-term health.

Reflexology is Particularly good at helping promote better health for people suffering from digestive disorders.

 

 

 

 

 

Lara O'Connell, Dip. Reflex. MNRRI. Main Street, Kinvara, Co Galway, Ireland. Ph:+353 (0) 86 277 5212.