How does our digestion work?
Our digestion is all about digesting or breaking down "food" (food) into nutrients, which the body can then absorb to make building materials or energy. Digestion begins as soon as we eat or drink something. We chew our food finely in the mouth, where it is mixed with saliva to make it smooth and soft. It then enters the esophagus, which pushes the food to the stomach. At the stomach entrance is a sphincter that opens only when food arrives, to prevent gastric juices from flowing back into the esophagus. The thick mucous membrane on the inside of the stomach protects against the acidic gastric juice, which contains hydrochloric acid and enzymes to break down food and render pathogenic bacteria harmless. In the small intestine, digestive juices and enzymes from the pancreas and gallbladder are then added to the food. These enzymes break down the food into nutrients, which enter the blood through the intestinal wall. Bacteria in the intestinal flora enhance and accelerate this breakdown process. Food that cannot be digested goes to the large intestine, where moisture and salts are extracted from the mash. This thickens the mush and creates poop, which leaves the body through the rectum.
The role of the microbiome
Keeping your gut flora healthy is very important for your overall health. This is because the beneficial bacteria in the gut flora enhance digestion by breaking down food and converting it into substances the body can absorb. They also play a role in bowel movements and in building your natural defenses, since about 70% of your immune system is located in your colon, where the microbiome helps to fight off pathogens. By the way, did you know that gut bacteria also affect how you feel? So the microbiome has a big impact on your health. The most important and most researched bacteria in the gut are the bifidobacteria in the large intestine and the lactobacilli at the end of the small intestine.
Balancing the gut flora
We speak of a healthy gut flora when the various types of microorganisms are in balance with each other. The intestinal flora can change in some situations, for example due to an infection, drug treatment or antibiotic treatment that not only fights the less desirable bacteria, but also the desirable ones. As a result, less desirable bacterial species can gain the upper hand, which can cause an imbalance in the intestinal flora. Rebalancing the intestinal flora may then be desirable. Many people like to use supplements to provide gut flora and gut support in such situations. With a surge of interest in the medical community and among nutrition experts, the microbiome is in the spotlight. Although we know relatively little about our gut flora and how it functions, all experts agree that the unexplored area in our gut is well worth further investigation.
