Did you know your body is one big food processing plant? That’s right! From the moment you put a piece of food into your mouth, your body starts processing the food. And the amazing thing is you don’t even have to finish eating a whole slice cake, just a single crumb will set the gears in motion.
It starts in the mouth, where salivary amylase begins to break down starches. From the mouth, food travels down the oesophagus into the stomach where stomach acid kills off many potentially harmful bacteria and provides the optimal pH to begin breaking down proteins.
The not so small, small intestine
From the stomach, food enters the small intestine. The small intestine is not actually small at all, but has a huge surface area of about 250 square meters, or approximately the size of a tennis court! Its sheer size enables the quick absorption of nutrients into the blood stream.
Bile, critical for digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the small intestine, is produced by the liver, stomach acid is neutralised, and the pancreas provides enzymes to break down carbohydrates and fats.
From the small intestine any indigestible products, such as dietary fibre (which is still important as it acts as “bulking” to keep everything moving through the digestive system), move into the large intestine, where water is absorbed and then its stored until it is expelled as poo.
Diversity: the key to healthy gut bacteria
The digestive system is home to thousands of bacteria. It’s calculated that some bacteria provide up to 15% of our required calories by breaking down compounds that we cannot break down ourselves, while other microbes help to promote immune cell development.
When it comes to bacteria, diversity is extremely important. Studies have found that people with less diverse gut bacteria are more likely to suffer from asthma, allergies, obesity and are more vulnerable to mental health problems.
It’s why RYH is specially designed to provide you with all the natural prebiotics and probiotics you need to promote healthy gut bacteria. After all, eating good food which helps make you feel great, both physically and mentally can’t be a bad thing.
Why not sign up to RYH today? You deserve to feel great today and every day.