Digest This! What Happens When You Eat? A Journey Through Digestion
Have you ever stopped to think about everything your body has to do after you take a bite of food?
Digestion is much more than simply filling your stomach. From the moment food enters your mouth, your body begins the complex process of breaking carbohydrates, proteins, and fats down into smaller components that can be absorbed and used throughout the body.
The Journey Begins
Digestion starts before food even reaches your stomach. Chewing helps physically break food into smaller pieces while digestive processes begin preparing nutrients for the next stages of their journey.
As food moves through the digestive tract, enzymes play an important role in helping break down different components of the foods we eat. Different enzymes assist with the digestion of different nutrients, including proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
But our digestive needs aren't necessarily the same throughout every stage of life.
Digestion Changes Over Time
From first feedings and childhood meals to busy adult schedules and later stages of life, our relationship with food continues to change.
One important factor is natural enzyme production. As we age, our body's natural production of digestive enzymes can decline. This means that supporting healthy digestion can become an increasingly important consideration over time.
Of course, age isn't the only thing that can influence digestion. The foods we eat, how much we eat, and our individual digestive systems can all play a role in how we experience a meal.
Supporting the Process
Digestive enzymes play an important role in breaking food down into smaller components that the body can absorb and use. And because digestion is a lifelong process, the way we support it may look different from one stage of life to the next.
From early feedings to family meals, busy workdays, and beyond, our digestive systems are constantly adapting to the foods and routines that shape our lives.
Digest This: Digestion is a journey that begins with our very first meals and continues throughout every stage of life. As our bodies, diets, and natural enzyme production change over time, supporting healthy digestion can remain an important part of the journey.*
Sometimes, that support may come in a surprisingly small scoop.