fbpx
360-800-5682 (360-800-5NTA) nta@nutritionaltherapy.com
  • Nutri-Q
  • Member Login
0 Items
Nutritional Therapy Association
  • About
    • About
      • Our Vision
      • Our Philosophy
      • Alumni Testimonials
      • Meet the Staff
      • Giving
      • Equity Commitment
      • Careers
      • NTP Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics
  • Courses
    • COURSE INFORMATION
      • Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) Program
      • Career Development Course
    • PROSPECTIVE STUDENT RESOURCES
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Scholarships
      • Payment Plans
      • Career Opportunities
      • Reporting Policy
      • ADA Policy
    • GETTING STARTED
      • Free Prospective Student Webinars
      • Enroll Today
  • Events
    • Events
      • Event Calendar
      • Informational Webinars
      • Past NTA Conferences
      • Purchase Conference & Event Recordings
  • Alumni
    • ALUMNI MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM
      • NTA Membership Form
      • Membership Info & FAQs
      • Membership Portal Login
    • GET INVOLVED
      • NTA Affiliate Program
      • Course Mentor Service
      • Engagement Opportunities
    • ALUMNI RESOURCES
      • Ripple Effect Grant
      • NTP Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics
      • Graduate Authors
      • NTA Blog
  • Find an NTP
    • Find an NTP
    • What is an NTP?
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Enroll Today
Select Page

Blog

Home » Nutrition Articles » The Digestion Process + 5 Ways to Improve Digestion

The Digestion Process + 5 Ways to Improve Digestion

Sep 4, 2019 | Nutrition Articles | 0 comments

The Digestion Process And 5 Ways To Support Digestion

The Digestion Process And 5 Ways To Support Digestion

Every cell that makes up every tissue that makes up every organ depends on the body’s digestive system to provide the nutrients it needs to keep on functioning. Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food. The goal of the digestion process is to reduce food to molecules so small that the nutrients can be absorbed and used by the cells and turned into fuel for the body, otherwise known as, Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP).

If food is the source of life, why do we suffer from so many digestive dysfunctions like, heartburn, indigestion, slow digestion, diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, etc? In this post we will uncover the digestion process so that you can understand how to better support yourself and others to fully absorb the nutrients that are being consumed.

 

What is the Digestion Process?

Picture this, you feel the grumbling in your stomach and your mouth begins to salivate. You choose your meal based off a craving and then you eat until satiated. So, what happens once you consume the food you eat? What is the digestion process, where does it start, and where does it end?

 

  1. Brain: Digestion is a north to south process that begins in the brain. The sight and smell of food triggers the salivary glands to begin producing saliva.
  2. Mouth: The mouth is the physical gateway to the digestive system where mechanical and chemical breakdown of the food begins. One solute in saliva is the enzyme, salivary amylase, which begins carbohydrate digestion.
  3. Stomach: Food enters the stomach as bolus. The stomach continues the mechanical breakdown of the bolus, along with a number of chemical activities and turns it into chyme.
  4. Small Intestine: Chyme enters the duodenum and travels through the small intestines and stimulates the production of other enzymes. This is where the bulk of nutrient absorption happens.
  5. Large Intestine: Recycles the water and waste material, which nourishes the colon cells. It captures any lost nutrients that are still available (with the help of the bowel flora) and converts the nutrients to Vitamins K/B1/B2/B12 and butyric acid. Then the remnants form and are eliminated as feces.

 

Digestion Process Infographic

 

 

The Digestive System Organs

The brain, mouth, stomach, small intestines, and large intestines are all involved in the digestive system. But, what about the other assisting digestive system organs?

 

  • Pancreas – produces pancreatic juices and enzymes to further digestion.
  • Gallbladder – stimulated by Cholecystokinin (CCK) to produce bile for the liver to distribute.
  • Liver – the digestion function of the liver is to secrete bile into the digestive tract to break down fats.

 

Most Common Digestive Diseases and Disorders

Some common digestive diseases and disorders are Crohn’s, Celiac, Ulcerative Colitis, Leaky Gut, SIBO, Candida Overgrowth, GERD, Acid Reflux and Heartburn, etc.

 

There can be many factors that contribute to developing one of these diseases or disorders. For example, Chris Kresser suggest that dysbiosis, environmental toxins, and diet all play a role.

 

5 Ways to Improve Digestion

Now that you can see why digestion is important, let’s talk about how to improve digestion and potentially prevent digestive diseases and disorders.

 

  1. Reduce stress – Digestion occurs under parasympathetic control. Avoid fight-or-flight hormones like, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which prevent digestion.
  2. Slow down and chew your food – This is very important! Eat meals slowly and chew food thoroughly in order to break down carbohydrates and activate other enzymes before moving onto the next stage in digestion.
  3. Hydrate – It is important to stay adequately hydrated throughout the day, so that your body can properly transport nutrients through your digestive tract. Limit liquids at mealtime to avoid diluting the gastric juices.
  4. Eat fermented foods – Fermented foods increase bioavailable nutrients and are easier to digest. Consuming fermented foods have also been shown to reduce phytic acid, an anti-nutrient according to a study on food grains.
  5. Go for a walk – Movement is important not only for reducing stress but also for stimulating the natural inflammation and muscle contractions necessary for digestion. If you suffer from slow digestion, a 15 minute walk after each meal would be a great way to improves digestion.

 

5 Ways To Improve Digestion

 

Additionally, here is an informational video on the digestion process for visual learners.

 

During our program, you’ll learn and master the scientific function of each body system, including digestion. You’ll understand how the importance of healthy digestive function and supporting it nutritionally will better empower your clients and aid them to increased health and vitality!


 

Join us for a Live Webinar with one of our Instructors and Admissions Advisors!

During this call, you’ll explore and learn:

  • How to create a rewarding career in holistic nutrition that will give you the confidence and competence to replace your full-time income (whether you’re new to nutrition or or using it to enhance your current services)
  • How our unmatched education and instructor support sets our NTP program apart from other nutrition programs​​​​​​​
  • How graduates are successfully using their education and the many career opportunities available to you
  • If the NTP program is the right fit for you an
Register for the Next Live Webinar

Categories

Receive Our Newsletter

Please Wait...
Success!
Something is wrong with your submission.

Nutritional Therapy Association, Inc.

Careers

P.O. Box 354
Olympia, WA 98507

(360) 800-5682
(360-800-5NTA)
Fax: (564) 888-5106

Contact Us »

Disclaimer

Annual Report

NTA Students

 

Scholarships

Financial Aid

Seminars/Trainings

Course Catalog

NTA Members

 

Member Login

Become a Member

Referral Rewards

Professional Development Opportunities

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Nutritional Therapy Association
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.