Video of the Day. Tip As your body digests the food you eat, it utilizes vitamins, minerals and macronutrients at different points along the digestive tract. The Digestive System Process.
Carbohydrates: This macronutrient is grouped into two categories: simple carbohydrates , which include sugars found in foods such as fruit, vegetables and milk, and complex carbohydrates , which consists of starches and fiber found in whole grain breads and cereals, starchy vegetables and legumes.
Protein: A macronutrient found in foods such as meat, eggs and beans, which your body digests into smaller molecules called amino acids. Fats: A macronutrient that's categorized into healthy fats , which consist of oils such as corn, canola, olive, safflower, soybean and sunflower, and less-healthy fats that are found in butter shortening and snack foods.
Vitamins: Micronutrients that are classified by the fluid in which they dissolve; water-soluble vitamins include all B vitamins and vitamin C, while fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A , D, E and K. Minerals: Micronutrients that are elements in food that your body needs to function normally. Some minerals that are essential for health include calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron.
Absorption of Nutrients. Digesting Dietary Fiber. This article looks at the digestive process and potential digestive problems and recommends ways to improve digestion. In many cases, the food moves through the stomach and small intestine within 6 to 8 hours.
It then passes to the large intestine colon. Once food reaches the large intestine, it may remain there for up to a day or more as it undergoes further breakdown.
In fact, there are three separate stages of digestion:. Chewing food breaks it down into smaller particles and mixes them with saliva. An enzyme present in saliva, called amylase, acts on carbohydrates in the food to break them down.
In the stomach, an enzyme called pepsin helps to break down proteins into smaller particles. Stomach acid also plays an important role in preventing food-borne illness as it kills any bacteria or viruses that may have been present in the food. Nutrients and water that have been removed from the digested food pass through the walls of the small intestine. They enter the bloodstream and travel to various areas of the body where they are used to repair and build.
The unabsorbed and undigested food that remains then moves to the large intestine. Here, some more nutrients and water are absorbed. The remainder is stored in the rectum until it leaves the body through a bowel movement. To enjoy a healthy digestive system and to prevent constipation and diarrhea , try the following:.
Fiber-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, help move food through the digestive system more rapidly. They also help prevent constipation, feed gut bacteria, and help with weight loss. Processed and fast foods are often high in fat, making them difficult to digest.
They are also rich in sugar, which may upset the balance of bacteria in the gut. Although the variables are fewer, even dietary supplements may contain slightly more or less than the amount shown on the label. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the many things that influence nutrient absorption. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue.
This type of interaction is called a food-drug interaction. If food consumption has the potential to affect a drug, your prescription will say to take it on an empty stomach. A good guideline to follow for these types of medications is to take them either 1 hour before eating or 2 hours after eating.
Sometimes you may be prescribed a medication that tells you to take it with food. There are a few reasons for this:. If you have a medication that you need to take with food, try to coordinate taking your medication with your mealtime. Always follow the instructions on the prescription packaging, and contact your doctor or pharmacist with any questions.
Some types of tests or procedures may require you to fast beforehand. For example, you may have to fast before:. There may be additional guidelines related to what types of drinks you can have. This often involves only drinking a small amount of water during your fasting period. After you eat, food typically spends 2 to 4 hours in your stomach.
Liquids usually leave your stomach quickly, while solid foods typically take longer. Other food-related factors that can lead to a longer stomach retention time include:. Whether your stomach is full or empty can impact things like taking medications or fasting before a test or procedure.
Digestive problems like bloating, cramping, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation can be challenging.
Here are the 19 best foods to improve…. The digestive system is essential to helping your body break down food so it can retrieve nutrients and vitamins while also getting rid of waste…. How long are your intestines and how do they work?
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