Ingested food and beverages are processed in your digestive tract and broken down into nutrients that your body can use for various metabolic functions. Nutrient molecules are absorbed through the lining of the small intestine into your...
The process of digestion has two parts: mechanical digestion and chemical digestion. While the latter depends upon digestive juices and enzymes, the former depends on muscles working to break food down into smaller pieces. You use muscles...
The digestive system consists of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus. Together these organs form a hollow tube that leads from the mouth to the anus. The digestive system, also known as the...
The digestive system is composed of a series of organs and tissues that work together to take the food we eat and turn it into fuel. The process by which a meal is transformed into the components needed to create new cells or provide energy to our...
Digestion is simultaneously a complicated process and a relatively simple one. Chemically, it's quite simple -- it involves breaking the large nutrient compounds in your food down into small nutrient compounds that you can absorb. Logistically,...
The digestion of food results in the production of various amounts of intestinal gas. This is not generally a byproduct of your own digestive processes, however--rather, it results from bacteria in your large intestine breaking down the components...
Digestion is the breakdown of foods into absorbable nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract, also referred to as the digestive tract, includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus....
The digestive system, also known as the gastrointestinal tract, alimentary canal or gut, is a series of hollow organs that form a long tube from the mouth to the anus. The organs of the digestive system include the mouth, pharynx, esophagus,...
The human digestive system has the job of processing ingested food in order to extract nutrients, which are then taken up into the bloodstream. Consisting of the gastrointestinal tract—which stretches from mouth to anus and includes the...
Digestion is defined in "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake as the process during which foods are broken down into small components that are able to be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract consists of the mouth,...
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse defines the digestive tract as "a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus." Almost all foods that enter the body provide some sort of nourishment...
The mouth plays a critical role in mechanical digestion as chewing breaks apart food, which lessens the burden on the rest of the digestive system. But the mouth also secretes amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starches -- long chains of sugar...
Sugars, starches and fiber are the three basic types of carbohydrates. During digestion, the body turns sugars and starches into the sugar glucose. Glucose is the body's preferred energy source, especially for the brain and central nervous system....
No matter how nutritious, your favorite foods won't do you any good in their natural, whole state. The nutrients your body gets from food must be small enough to absorb easily into your bloodstream. Through the use of specialized chemicals, your...
The digestive tract, also called the alimentary canal, consists of a group of hollow organs that provide a passageway for food and beverages. These organs function in the process of digestion, the breakdown of food particles to small molecules....
Food digestion is a process regulated by several different organs. The word "digestion" refers to the chemical and mechanical breakdown of food into smaller molecules that can be used to fuel your body's metabolic processes. Digestion begins as...
The process of human digestion occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, which is made up of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and accessory organs. Digestion involves the physical and chemical breakdown of food, as well...
Digestion starts in your head. Thinking about food, smelling aromas of food cooking, even seeing food signals your body to start the process of digestion. You want your food to break down quickly and efficiently so your body can put the energy...
The human digestive system is a complicated group of organs that extracts the nutrient molecules from food, so that they can be absorbed by the bloodstream and become available to cells for energy. The functions of the digestive system are both...
Digestive enzymes are proteins that help break down nutrient molecules in your digestive tract. Your own cells produce them, and you can also purchase supplements of certain digestive enzymes. While the ones you produce are healthful -- essential,...
Your digestive system is designed to draw water, electrolytes and nutrients from the food you eat for use by your body's systems. Your digestive tract runs from your mouth to anus and includes your esophagus, stomach and intestines. Your salivary...
Your digestive tract is long, continuous tube that chemically and mechanically digests food. Mechanical digestion describes a mashing or churning action; chemical digestion involves caustic substances that break food down into basic nutrients your...
Mechanical and chemical changes occur as food moves through your digestive system. The process of digestion reduces all of your foods to a size and form that your body can absorb and transport to individual cells. Proteins, fats and carbohydrates...
Starch is a large carbohydrate molecule composed of many glucose subunits bound into a complex, branching network. This is the main chemical used by plants to store excess energy; it is, not surprisingly, the most common carbohydrate in most human...
A number of common myths and misconceptions abound regarding lemon juice in water and its ability to benefit your digestive tract, or your health in general. While lemons -- like all citrus -- contain vitamin C, they don't benefit your digestive...
When you take in food, it's the job of your digestive tract to break that food down into smaller pieces through mechanical digestion, and then break larger molecules into smaller ones through chemical digestion. The intestine then absorbs the...
The process of digestion mechanically and chemically breaks down the foods you eat into smaller molecules of nutrients that your body can absorb through the lining of the small intestine. Your body needs three types of macronutrients -- protein,...
The human body is made up of trillions of cells that work together to allow for tissue development and maintenance, organ functioning, locomation, and a range of other functions. Almost all cells contain thousands of genes, and the combined...
Because you depend upon your digestive tract to provide you with nutrition -- and because digestive upset can be so uncomfortable -- it's important to provide your digestive tract with the nutrients it needs to function smoothly. Digestive...
Pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition that occurs when pancreatic digestive enzymes become active within the gland and attack the pancreas itself. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and treatments for pancreatitis in this...
