Gastro Digestive System

By Thiruvelan, 19 November, 2011

Gastro digestive system helps breakdown complex foods into nutrients that are easier to absorb. Any digestion problem makes you unhealthy.

Gastro Digestive System

The human gastro digestive system refers to gastro intestinal system, which includes the stomach, esophagus, small intestine, and large intestine. Many experts consider all the structure from the mouth to the anus and include other accessory organs of digestion (organs that support digestion) such as liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Gastro Digestive System

Digestion Process

A well-developed human adult has a gastrointestinal (GI) tract of 5 to 9 meters (20 to 30 feet’s) length, which digests the food and extracts needed nutrients and energy.

In a healthy human adult, the digestion process can take between 24 to 72 hours. The digestion process involves the breakdown of complex food molecules by mechanical and chemical means. It involves numerous hormones, enzymes and other chemicals and very complicated process called as the digestive process.

Digestive Hormones

Digestive system secret’s various hormones to help carryout the digestion process by the digestive system. Some of the digestive hormone includes Gastrin, Secretin, Cholescystokinin (CCK), Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) and Motilin.

Digestive Enzymes

Digestive system releases various enzymes; these enzymes help break down complex macromolecules into their smaller micro molecules that can easily be absorption by the body. Digestive enzymes are classifying base on their target substrates:

  • Enzyme proteases and peptidases help breakdown of proteins into their monomers and amino acids.
  • Enzyme lipases help breakdown of fat into three fatty acids and a glycerol molecule.
  • Enzyme carbohydrase help breakdown of carbohydrates such as starch and sugars into simpler sugars like glucose.
  • Enzyme nucleases help break down nucleic acids into nucleotides.

Digestion Problems Diseases

Most health professionals considered major diseases starts in the colon. Surprisingly, most of these digestion problems are causing by our foods that contain preservatives, artificial food colors, artificial food flavors and other chemical food additives. The refined and processed foods are not good for our digestive system. In addition, our stress-full life can also affect our digestion system and process.

However, a moderate amount of food fibers, consistent regular exercise helps the digestive system to perform its optimal digestion process that help keeps you healthy.

I try to explore in detail about digestion, digestion system, digestion process, and digestion problems or diseases. Common digestive diseases associated with esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.