What is Chemical Digestion?
Chemical digestion refers to the digestive processes which are performed by the body after eating food. These include:
The breakdown of proteins into amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and other compounds;
The breaking down of fats into fatty acids (essential for life);
The breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose (used in energy production), and various smaller molecules such as nucleotides (which play an essential role in DNA synthesis).
In addition to these processes, there are some other functions of the human body which are related to chemical digestion. For example, when digesting food, bacteria break down certain substances and release gases into the air. These gases have been known to cause respiratory problems in humans. Some of these gases may also affect our health if inhaled or ingested.
How Does Chemical Digestion Work?
When a person eats food, the enzymes in the mouth break down the food into its constituent parts. The nutrients are absorbed through the intestines and then are used up by your body. However, it is not just about how much food you eat; it is also about how quickly you absorb all of it! If you do not get enough nutrition within a short period of time, your body will begin to suffer from deficiencies.
The stomach is a muscular bag that holds food and begins the process of breaking it down through churning and mixing it with various digestive juices. Eventually, the partially digested mixture leaves the stomach through a tube called the intestines, where most of the nutrients are absorbed into the blood.
The liver and pancreas also play an important role in the overall digestion process. The liver produces bile, a fluid which aids in the breakdown of fats into smaller units that can then be absorbed by the intestines. The pancreas produces enzymes that help break down carbohydrates and proteins into glucose and amino acids respectively.
What Happens If You Don’t Digest Food Properly?
When the body does not digest food properly, a condition called malnutrition may occur. Malnutrition is a serious condition that can lead to health problems such as anemia, osteoporosis and even organ failure. It can also lead to skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis and even acne.
Even when you consume enough nutrients, if your body is unable to absorb them properly, malnutrition may still occur. This is why it’s very important to make sure that your digestive system is working well at all times!
Is Your Body Digestive System Working?
To find out if your body is digesting food properly, you should take a good look at your stools. If your stools are hard and difficult to pass, this could mean that your body is not breaking down the food you eat into smaller units. This can be very serious if not treated on time and may lead to further complications such as hemorrhoids or even a tear in the lining of the intestines.
If the stool is loose and watery, this may mean that your body is breaking down food much faster than it can be absorbed. In such a scenario, the body starts absorbing water from the cells in the bowels and this leads to severe diarrhea. While you may lose a lot of water this way, you will also fail to absorb nutrients like fat and protein, which are essential for a healthy body. This may lead to malnutrition as well.
What Should You Do?
It is important to see a doctor if you suspect that your body is not digesting food properly. A physician will ask you several questions about your lifestyle and eating habits before reaching a conclusion. He may also suggest some tests to rule out other diseases that may cause the same set of symptoms.
In some cases, your physician may refer you to a gastroenterologist. This is a doctor who has undergone special training to diagnose and treat diseases relating to the digestive system.
The Treatment For Poor Digestion
Once the cause for the poor digestion is determined, the right treatment can be given. If the problem is something minor like eating too much of something that doesn’t agree with you, then just resting and drinking lots of liquids should help. If the problem is something more serious, then medication or even surgery may be required.
While poor digestion can often be rectified with medication and lifestyle changes, it is best to try and maintain a healthy digestive system with the help of probiotics such as probiotic capsules and probiotic drinks. Probiotics not only help improve the digestive process, they also support the immune system and help prevent diseases.
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