Nutrition Edit

We’re not ones to shy away from talking about the gross side of science. Digestive juices, toilet habits, microscopic microbes? We're here for it.

So, if you’re curious about what goes on inside your body, get ready to dive into all things digestion – the twists and turns of gut health.

 

How does the digestive system work?

First, let’s get into how food moves through the body.

The digestive system breaks down food into small, simple fragments, so our body can absorb essential nutrients.

The process starts in the mouth, and moves through to the stomach and small intestine – where it is absorbed into the blood stream.

Undigested food – like fibre – moves through the large intestine and makes a swift exit through the anus as poo.

When one part of the system is a little off, it can throw our digestion out of whack. The good news: there are lots of ways to keep things moving.

 

How long does it take to digest food?

It takes about four hours for food to get to the stomach, six to get to the small intestine and around 17 hours to arrive at the large intestine, before its final destination ?.

 

What’s the microbiome got to do with it?

The microbiome is a community of microorganisms (like bacteria) that exist together in one place. In humans, we have microorganisms in our gut and on our skin – ‘good’ bacteria that’s essential for our all-round health.

The gut microbiome helps move nutrients around the body and supports absorption into the blood stream, so essential vitamins and minerals can travel to where they’re needed. (Like a biological sat nav.)

To keep the microbiome running smoothly, we can feed it prebiotics like fibre to support diversity – lots of different types of healthy bacteria in the gut.

 

How can we improve our digestion?

1. Ease stress

Stress has been linked to many digestive issues, from constipation, bloating and cramps to diarrhoea. It’s easy to say ‘stress less’ and hard to do sometimes, but trying to manage stress can make a huge difference to our digestive system. ‘Mindful eating’ can also help – take time to chew your food properly and focus on the task at hand!

 

2. Avoid smoking

We all know smoking has many negative effects on our health, and this includes our digestive system. According to the NHS, smoking can weaken the muscle that controls the lower end of the food pipe, which can lead to reflux, heartburn and inflammation.

 

3. Chew properly

Try to eat slowly and chew each mouthful properly. This helps break food down so there’s less work for your digestive system to do. Drinking plenty of water can help support the digestive process, too, but making sure the body is well-hydrated.

 

4. Take probiotics + prebiotics

Feeding the good bacteria living in your gut can help increase diversity and help the good bacteria to thrive. According to the NHS, probiotics have been linked to positive benefits for those with gut health issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

 

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