The garbage passed off as food today and the high rates of digestive disorders plaguing the nation make it clear that the importance of the digestive process is not understood. Digestion is a process that can affect our daily quality of life, playing a direct role in our mental health and mood.[1] In essence, digestion is where our health begins, and recent research has blatantly illustrated this fact. Let's look at how the digestive system performs its function and discuss the key facts you need to know when seeking to protect your digestive health.
The digestive process involves three basic steps: the cephalic phase, the gastric phase, and the intestinal phase. Here are some of the main focus points associated with each phase:
While digestion requires the three phases listed above, it also requires four essential components – stomach acid, enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotics.
Digestive enzymes break molecules into smaller parts so they can be absorbed by the body. These enzymes are categorized as:
Those that are deficient in these enzymes, or those that suffer from an impairment in enzyme function, may benefit from enzyme supplementation.[2]
These bacterial colonies, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria being the most common, play an essential role in digestion. Probiotics aid in the synthesis of vitamin K, B12, and biotin (B1), contribute to the digestion of foods, denature proteins, and kill off hostile microbes. Some studies even suggest that probiotics may aid in balancing mood.[3,4,5] This effect is observed in relation to serotonin, a neurotransmitter found mainly in the gastrointestinal system.
Prebiotics are mainly derived from fiber, like inulin. Often, yogurt marketed as probiotic yogurt will contain inulin (prebiotic) and live active cultures (probiotic). Other good sources of prebiotics include acacia gum, dandelion greens, garlic, asparagus, beans, oats, and chicory root.
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