17 Feb Human Digestive System: Why Is It Important To Us?
Did you know some of the enzymes that are found in laundry detergents are actually present in our digestive system? Yes, our digestive system literally does the job of cleaning up stains and all the trash in our body.
Our body is a marvel on its own with impressive biological engineering. All the systems in our human anatomy work in tandem to sustain life in us. Among all the systems, our digestive system function has a critical role in maintaining good health and energy.
So, how exactly is this system responsible for keeping our existence? In this blog, we will be getting into the significance of the digestive system and try to understand the ways it helps us go every day.
What Is the Human Digestive System?
We may not think about our digestive system much but we are sure to use it all the time. So, what does it mean by digestive system? It is basically a group of all the parts of our body and internal organs that are involved in eating, drinking, breaking down food, absorbing the nutrients and eliminating the wastes.
That means it begins from our mouth and ends at the anus. Everything in between including the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, etc. are part of the system. Each organ has a crucial part that ensures our body can extract the most benefit from the foods we consume.
It is our digestive system that works to give us energy and contribute to build materials along with key nutrients for maintaining overall health. So, to say that this system is important is pretty an underhanded statement as it is essentially responsible for keeping us alive.
Why Is the Digestive System Important?
Energy Production
Our energy levels determine the quality of life that we lead. In every activity that we perform, right from talking, standing to thinking or even sleeping, we need energy to do so. So, the next time you are tossing and turning, trying to get some sleep despite feeling exhausted, remember it is your energy levels keeping you up.
The thing that gets us energy is definitely the food we eat. In fact, the importance of food in human life cannot be overstated but it is the digestive system that works to source energy from the food we consume.
One of the system’s functions is to break the food into smaller components like the glucose. The components are utilised by our body cells for the production of energy.
Without a functioning digestive system, the body wouldn’t have the fuel needed to perform these essential activities.
Nutrient Absorption
If you flip the backside of your packaged food then you can see the nutritional value that it offers. But that does not mean that upon eating those foods we get the same value of all of those nutrients that are listed in the package.
It is the digestive system that has to work through the food to extract those nutrients and distribute them into different parts of the body. Right from when our mouth does the job of chewing down the food, the process of nutrient absorption begins.
Vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fats and all the other nutrients from food is what keeps our body well-maintained and growing.
Waste Elimination
But the food we consume is not entirely used to churn out nutrients from it. Some of the things are not used in our body. If they are not eliminated from our body then it dampens our health causing numerous illnesses.
It is our digestive system that puts the work in getting those waste materials out from our body. A well-coordinated process is in place to keep the body clean and free from harmful toxins.
Immune System Support
Did you know that about 70% of your immune system resides in your gut? The digestive system hosts beneficial bacteria, also known as the gut microbiome, which helps fight off harmful pathogens and supports overall immunity.
Maintaining Balance in the Body
The digestive system plays a critical role in maintaining the balance of fluids, electrolytes, and pH levels in the body. This ensures that all other systems, like the nervous and circulatory systems, function efficiently.
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