The Digestive System »
What Is Digestion?
Digestion is the complex process of turning the food you eat into the energy
you need to survive. The digestion process also involves creating waste to be
eliminated.
The digestive tract (or gut) is a long twisting tube that starts at the mouth
and ends at the anus. It is made up of a series of muscles that coordinate the
movement of food and other cells that produce enzymes and hormones to aid in the
breakdown of food. Along the way are three other organs that are needed for
digestion: the liver, gallbladder and the pancreas.
Food's Journey
Stop 1: The Mouth
The mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract, and, in fact, digestion
starts here before you even take the first bite of a meal. The smell of food
triggers the salivary glands in your mouth to secrete saliva, causing your mouth
to water. When you actually taste the food, saliva increases.
Once you ...
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I was diagnosed five years ago with GERD and hiatal hernia. I've been treated with PPIs during this time, with little success. Having made all the lifestyle changes to diet, sleep habits, etc., and still no significant relief, I also developed symptoms of LPR -- trouble swallowing, lump in the throat, and hoarseness. My treating GI and a speech therapist counseled me and the GI upped my PPI dosage. Now, the LPR is only occasional, but the reflux symptoms at night have become chronic, even though I've eliminated all coffee and chocolate at night and do not eat after 6 pm. Recent tests show only low average acid levels and NO hiatal hernia. What's going on? A head and neck surgical specialist has recommended a throat biopsy to look for non-acidic reflux. Published: June 23 ::