What Happens to Food After You Eat it!

Different foods have different effects on your body, it’s good to know what happens during the digestive process. It will really make a difference in how you make your food choices! I love this poster, I want to hang it in my kitchen!

Digestion, What Happens When You Chew

How food is digested is made up of a very complex system that provides the fuel and power for your body. The body cannot use food that is eaten until it is broken down into very small molecules like protein, vitamins, carbohydrates, and fats. Only then can the body absorb these molecules and process them through the blood, liver, kidneys, and the entire digestive system, working to separate the good parts from the bad. When you chew food, saliva begins breaking down food; which is why it is so important to chew your food well.

Chewing food properly is something that few of us do, and it can have wide ranging health benefits. When you eat food, the first stage to digesting it is the process of chewing it down and breaking it up; failure to do this properly – because you’ve been in a rush, or because you were talking or eating in front of the TV, is not only impolite but also a fast track to a range of health difficulties. Chewing breaks the food down from large particles into smaller particles that are more easily digested. This also makes it easier for the intestines to absorb nutrients and energy from the food particles as they pass through, while also preventing improperly digested food from entering your blood and causing a wide range of adverse effects to your health.

The longer you chew, the more time it will take you to finish a meal, and research shows that eating slowly can help you to eat less and, ultimately, to avoid weight gain and even lose weight . For example, chewing your food twice as long as you normally would will instantly help you control your portion sizes, which naturally decreases calorie consumption.

Saliva contains digestive enzymes, so the longer you chew, the more time these enzymes have to start breaking down your food, making digestion easier on your stomach and small intestine. One of these enzymes is lingual lipase, an enzyme that helps break down fats, for example. Saliva also helps to lubricate your food so it’s easier on your esophagus.

The chewing process pre-digests your food into small pieces and partially liquefies it, making it easier to digest. Digestion is actually a very demanding task for your body, requiring a great deal of energy, especially if forced to digest improperly chewed food. Chewing properly allows your stomach to work more efficiently and break down your food faster.

The bones holding your teeth get a ‘workout’ when you chew, helping to keep them strong. The saliva produced while chewing is also beneficial, helping to clear food particles from your mouth and wash away bacteria so there may be less plaque buildup and tooth decay.

When large particles of improperly chewed food enter your stomach, it may remain undigested when it enters your intestines. There bacteria will begin to break it down, or in other words it will start to putrefy, potentially leading to gas and bloating, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, cramping, and other digestive problems.

The stomach is a very muscular organthat produces strong acid killing bad bacteria, breaking food down while mixing it together. If the valve of the stomach doesn’t close properly when food is being processed, some acid can leak into the esophagus causing heartburn.

What Happens to Food After You Eat it! 
By PositiveMed-Team
Edited By Stephanie Dawson

How Food is Digested, YouTube 
How to Chew Food Properly, Health GuidanceHow Food is Digested, My Doctor (dot) com 
Food Digestion, Educational Informagraphics 
What Happens to Food After You Eat It, PositiveMed