Food Travels Through the Body

The esophagus is an 8-inch tube that connects the throat and stomach. This organ is very muscular. After swallowing, a large amount of chewing food is brought to the full length of the esophagus. There is a loop of muscle called "lower esophageal sphincter" or "cardiac sphincter" at the lower end of the esophagus. This sphincter will automatically close the end of the esophagus to prevent stomach contents from moving backwards. When food passes through the esophagus, food can move to the stomach.

Food is body energy. Digestive enzymes in the mouth, stomach and intestine break down complex food molecules into simpler structures such as sugars and amino acids and they flow through all of our tissues through the blood. Our cells use energy stored in the chemical bonds of these simpler molecules as usual. We calculate the available energy of all foods. One of them is called calories or kcal. Fat supplies about 9 calories per gram but carbohydrates and proteins only supply 4 calories. Because the enzymes in the human digestive tract are difficult to cut into smaller molecules, the fibers supply 2 calories of heat.

In order to survive, our body has to carry energy and nutrients to the cells of the body by eating and digesting food. In order to carry it to somatic cells through the bloodstream, food must be broken down into ingredients. Through the process of digestion and absorption, the digestive system breaks down into food that is small enough to absorb food and pass blood flow. Digestion is the process of converting food into usable energy. During the absorption process, nutrients from carbohydrates, proteins, fats, foods including vitamins and minerals enter the bloodstream through the passageway of the intestinal wall. "The organs that make up the gastrointestinal tract are the mouth, the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, the large intestine - also known as the colorectum and the anus" (NDDIC). Digestion begins in the mouth, food is cut into small pieces and crushed