We all know that what you eat is important to staying healthy, but did you know that how you eat is just as important? In other words, eating high quality foods doesn’t necessarily mean that they are efficiently being digested, absorbed and utilized for nutrition and energy. The process of digestion is quite complicated, here’s a quick rundown of what happens every time you eat.

The digestive process begins in your mouth. It is here that enzymes from your saliva mix with food to break down carbohydrates in preparation of digestion. If you don’t chew your food thoroughly (it should be in liquid form when swallowing) the food particles you swallow are too large to be broken down in your small intestines. If this happens, nutrients in the food can’t be extracted for your body to use. In addition, stomach acids can’t kill unfriendly parasites and fungi hiding inside food particles that are too large. If this happens, these guys will end up staying in your body and often start breaking down your immune system.

When food enters your stomach, it mixes with more enzymes and HCL (hydrochloric acid) which breaks down proteins. HCL also kills unwanted parasites, bacteria, fungi and germs. Digestive enzymes and an adequate amount of  HCL are essential to a healthy digestive system. Food then enters the small intestine where it mixes with digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver and is digested. Once digested the food then goes to the liver where it is processed and delivered through your bloodstream to your cells where it can be converted to energy or used by your body to rebuild or repair cells. Undigested food particles are excreted through the colon. A healthy colon is important because it contains friendly bacteria that produce several vitamins and helps prevent constipation.  

Eating too fast, eating on the run or eating while you work can severely disrupt all stages of this digestive process, leading to symptoms such as gas, bloating, headaches, burping, reflux, neck, shoulder and back pain, fatigue after eating, abdominal distension, constant hunger, bowel irregularity, muscle and joint pain and several others. By changing some habits, you can improve this process and get the most out of the food you are eating.

Tips for Better Digestion:

1. Eliminate stress while eating. The stress response impairs digestion, so if you are busy working at your computer or worried about what you need to get done, you are not digesting your food well.

2. Choose a peaceful spot where you can be relaxed while eating. 

3. Sit down for all meals (eating while driving doesn’t count).

4. Drink 1/2 glass of water 15 minutes before your meal.

5.  Chew your food until it is in liquid form (or at least 30 times). This also helps reduce over-eating (it takes your stomach 20 minutes to tell your brain that it’s full).

If you would like more personalized information on the health of your digestive system, please contact us. We’re happy to give you a complimentary consultation.

Dorothy Lizak

Nutrition and Wellness Specialist

References:

Chek, Paul “How to Eat, Move, and Be Healthy” 2004.