Why is digestion important? | IBD Clinic (2024)

Why is digestion important?

Digestion is important for breaking down food into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair. Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients before the blood absorbs them and carries them to cells throughout the body. The body breaks down nutrients from food and drink into carbohydrates, protein, fats, and vitamins.

CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates are the sugars, starches, and fiber found in many foods. Carbohydrates are called simple or complex, depending on their chemical structure. Simple carbohydrates include sugars found naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk, and milk products, as well as sugars added during food processing. Complex carbohydrates are starches and fiber found in whole-grain breads and cereals, starchy vegetables, and legumes.

PROTEIN

Foods such as meat, eggs, and beans consist of large molecules of protein that the body digests into smaller molecules called amino acids. The body absorbs amino acids through the small intestine into the blood, which then carries them throughout the body.

FATS

Fat molecules are a rich source of energy for the body and help the body absorb vitamins. Oils, such as corn, canola, olive, safflower, soybean, and sunflower, are examples of healthy fats. Butter, shortening, and snack foods are examples of less healthy fats. During digestion, the body breaks down fat molecules into fatty acids and glycerol.

VITAMINS

Scientists classify vitamins by the fluid in which they dissolve. Water-soluble vitamins include all the B vitamins and vitamin C. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Each vitamin has a different role in the body’s growth and health. The body stores fat-soluble vitamins in the liver and fatty tissues, whereas the body does not easily store water-soluble vitamins and flushes out the extra in the urine.

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Why is digestion important? | IBD Clinic (2024)

FAQs

Why is digestion important for your body? ›

Why is digestion important? Digestion is important for breaking down food into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair. Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients before the blood absorbs them and carries them to cells throughout the body.

What is the clinical importance of the digestive system? ›

Your digestive system is uniquely constructed to do its job of turning your food into the nutrients and energy you need to survive. And when it's done with that, it handily packages your solid waste, or stool, for disposal when you have a bowel movement.

Why is the digestive health the most important? ›

Why is Digestive Health Important? The digestive system plays a major role in your overall health as it brings nutrients to your body. Without good digestive health, you will experience a host of uncomfortable symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, indigestion, and more.

What is the most important thing about the digestive system? ›

Your digestive system breaks nutrients into parts small enough for your body to absorb and use for energy, growth, and cell repair. MyPlate offers ideas and tips to help you meet your individual health needs . Your digestive system breaks nutrients into parts that are small enough for your body to absorb.

What is the most important role in digestion? ›

The small intestine is the most important organ of the digestive system as it serves both, for digestion and absorption. It receives two digestive juices; the bile and the pancreatic juice in the duodenum. These two juices virtually complete the digestion of starch, proteins, carbohydrates, etc.

What is digestion short answer? ›

Digestion is the process of mechanically and enzymatically breaking down food into substances for absorption into the bloodstream. The food contains three macronutrients that require digestion before they can be absorbed: fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

Why does digestive health matter? ›

It's the most central organ that other organs depend on for life-supporting nutrition. That's why your gut health is so important. The GI tract is where food is digested, where nutrients are absorbed and assimilated and where waste is segregated and eliminated.

What is the main function of the digestive system? ›

The function of the digestive system is to digest and absorb food and then excrete the waste products with the help of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum.

How the digestive system may contribute to overall health? ›

Your digestive system breaks down food and liquid into their chemical components—carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals—so the body can absorb these nutrients, use them for energy, and build or repair cells.

What are the benefits of improving digestive health? ›

A healthy gut contributes to:
  • a strong immune system.
  • heart health.
  • brain health.
  • improved mood.
  • healthy sleep.
  • effective digestion.
  • potential prevention of some cancers and autoimmune diseases.

How can we take care of our digestive system? ›

Your Digestive System: 5 Ways to Support Gut Health
  1. Eat the right foods. “Americans' fiber intake is 40 to 50 percent of what it should be,” Mullin says. ...
  2. Get more sleep. ...
  3. Move more. ...
  4. Manage stress. ...
  5. Get help for issues like anxiety and depression.

What are the benefits of digest all? ›

MRM Nutrition Digest-All ® IC Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes | Improved Digestion and Absorption | Healthy Digestion | May Help with Bloating and Gas | Gluten-Free | 30 Servings.

Why is the digestive system more important than the other systems? ›

Digestion is important because our body needs nutrients (like proteins, vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and water) from food and drink to work properly and stay healthy. Our digestive system breaks down nutrients into small parts for our body to absorb and use for energy, growth, and cell repair.

What are the important parts of human digestive system? ›

The digestive system is made up of organs that are important for digesting food and liquids. These include the mouth, pharynx (throat), esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus.

What are 5 facts about the stomach? ›

7 Surprising Facts About Your Stomach
  • Your Stomach Isn't The Only Part Digesting Food. ...
  • Stomach Acid Is Strong Enough To Burn Skin. ...
  • The Stomach Has Many Parts. ...
  • It Takes Hours For Food To Pass Through The Stomach. ...
  • You Can Survive Without A Stomach. ...
  • Your Stomach Is Very Muscular. ...
  • Anxiety Can Cause Stomach Issues.

What would happen if we didn't have a digestive system? ›

Answer and Explanation: An individual born without accessory digestive organs will have difficulty in obtaining nutrients from food which will lead to severe malnutrition and death. Accessory digestive organs mainly help in the chemical breakdown of food into nutrients that can be absorbed in the small intestine.

How does eating healthy help your digestive system? ›

Making better food choices involves eating a balanced diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. These foods provide the fiber needed to build good bacteria and guard gut health. In general, choosing whole foods over processed foods will promote healthy digestion.

How does the digestive system interact with other body systems? ›

The digestive system works closely with the circulatory system because nutrients that are digested and absorbed by the digestive system are transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. We must eat food in order to gain the energy-rich nutrients stored within it.

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