Haven't we all heard the phrase, "You are what you eat"? It is true, we are essentially an end result of what we take into our bodies and how it is successfully processed. The gut is the very center of our being, both literally and figuratively. When the gut is healthy, the rest of the body will follow suit. The gut refers to the digestive system, many parts which must all work together to maximize our state of well-being. If even the smallest part of the system is going awry, the whole system is going with it.

The parts that are typically being spoken of when we hear the words, the gut, are the pancreas, the small and large intestines, the esophagus, the stomach, the liver and the gall bladder. Our mouths would be the doorway of entry to the gut and the exit would then be the rectum. These two are not really parts of the gut, but are still an important part of the process. The following is a brief explanation of the functions of each part. You will see that it is necessary that they work together to ensure successful digestion.

Esophagus-The esophagus is a pipe about 10 inches long that takes the food you swallow and moves it slowly down to the stomach. As the food is being transported, it is being squeezed by muscles in the esophagal walls to further blend food and saliva into a more acceptable form for entry into the stomach.

Stomach-The stomach is where the food is stored temporarily. While in storage, it is being further broken down by the gastric juices that the stomach is full of. This is being done in preparation for the next step, entry into the small intestine. By the time that it is released, it will be in liquid form.

Small Intestine-The small intestine is flexible tubing that is wrapped up under the stomach. While in the small intestine, the food is being broken down further for absorption into the body. Different juices from the liver, the pancreas and the gall bladder will enter the small intestine to help digest the food properly. When the food leaves the small intestine, hours later, it is a very thin liquid.

Liver-The liver secretes bile to absorb fats into the bloodstream. Food is also brought into the liver after the small intestine to be released into the bloodstream as nutrients. Some of the food will also be made into more bile to keep the ball rolling for the next meal.

Gallbladder-The gallbladder stores the bile for release as the body is ready for it and needs it.

Pancreas-The pancreas secretes the juices that aid in the absorption of proteins and some fats.

Large Intestine-The large intestine is the final stop for your food before it makes its exit. The body may absorb a bit more of the nutrients if there are any more to be found, but primarily this is where the leftovers become a solid, known as excrement or stool.

You can probably see now how everything works together and why there would be a problem if one portion of the gut wasn't functioning properly. If, for example, the liver wasn't doing its fair share of the work, we wouldn't be able to absorb the fats and proteins necessary for good health. When the food went to the large intestine, it would be minus the bile breakdown and cause even more problems.

The gut, with its many parts, works to keep and use the good and expel the bad. Drinking plenty of water and eating foods that are high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, will help your digestive system to work more effectively. Your gut is the very key to optimal health, which is the key to a happy and comfortable existence.

Learn more about this author, Melissa J. Clark.
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