Our digestive system and the effects of inflammatory bowel disease

 A functional digestive system is one that turns food into nutrients.  Commonly known nutrients are carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, fats and minerals.  Our organs are dependent on nutrients as energy source as well as to stay healthy.

Digestive tract covers the entire length from mouth to anus.  When food is consumed, it starts right from the mouth, goes down the esophagus, and into the stomach.  After the stomach, it will enter the small intestine, the place where nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream.  Leftover water and solid waste would be moved down into the large intestine, which absorbs most of the water into the bloodstream.  Solid waste is passed out from the body through anus, commonly referred to as bowel movement.

Digestive disorders can plague your lives as these are the most prevalent problems having carried the symptoms and affecting millions and millions of humans worldwide.  Most of us have some problems with digestion at least once in a life time. Symptoms like constipation, heartburn, diarrheas are very common. In some cases you would also note disorders like IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, peptic ulcer, gastritis, acid reflux or GERD etc; these are more of serious forms of digestive complications.