As I have been dealing quite a lot with digestion problems my whole life, I have taken on a quest to learn and understand all I can about the digestive system. The more you know, the more empowered you become (especially when talking with doctors).
I have learned quite a bit, and have been working to change my eating habits in order to gain better digestion. Changing my ways have been very difficult I have found, as it is so easy for me to go back to my old ways. I have found a prayer before eating for help really helps :)
I have decided to share some of the information I have learned regarding digestion. The first will be "The Art of Chewing"
Digestion begins in the mouth. Here the teeth break down the food we eat to allow our digestive system to function more effectively. Remember there are no teeth in the stomach. If it does not break down in the mouth sufficient enough, it will have a harder time to be processed. Which will become harder for the body to take the nourishment, vitamins, energy, etc. it needs in order to do it's job.
While in the mouth we create a liquid called, saliva. Saliva plays an important role in digestion. Saliva contains enzymes used to break down the starch and fat of the food. If you don't have the proper enzymes in your body, then you have a harder time breaking the food down. So those who are "lactose intolerant" don't produce the enzyme lactose in order to break down the lactase in food. You can take an enzyme pill (Lactaid) to help provide this enzyme.
As the saliva is in our mouth, mixing in with our food, it is also able to tell what food we are bringing into our bodies. It will send a signal down to the stomach, forewarning it. This will then allow it to be prepared as to how to digest it properly. If we eat to fast, the stomach does not have time to prepare, and the food will then need to sit longer (this is not good digestion).
So the next time you eat something, think about these steps, and the wonderful body we are given to allow ourselves to function at our optimum. Remember to chew well and slowly!
3 comments:
Aunt Laurie says that she grew up with Grandpa Black. He also told us that our stomachs do not have teeth. He told us kids that we needed to chew each mouthful 27 time and he would could them for us. I remember some softer foods just going on down. Becky and I would just keep chewing until Grandpa was through counting. This is good advice to help digestion from the way we eat and chew before it even starts to digest :-)
"I Love You"
P.S. could is count after the 27 times. And thank for the fun memory!!
Grandpa was very wise! :) Thanks for the memories, and smiles. I can only imagine what dinner conversations would have been like for you growing up.
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