My youngest grandson delights in telling me that food goes into his mouth, down to his tummy, and then comes out as…well, you know. But there’s so much more to it! Knowing that will protect your health and your wallet. So here goes. More science by a scientist!
How it Starts
Digestion begins in your mouth. As you chew the food, it mixes with chemicals in your saliva that start to break carbs (found in crackers, potatoes, rice, etc.) down into sugar. That’s why if you suck on a cracker or bread, it begins to taste sweet.
In the Stomach
In your stomach, the food gets mashed up and mixed with acid to break down the proteins (found in meat, dairy, and beans). Incidentally, your stomach is very acidic. It kills most of the germs on your food unless you take antacids, which also interfere with digesting protein—a necessary evil for some of us, especially if we eat sugar or fast food!
Science in the Small Intestine
In the small intestine, neutralizers and other chemicals are mixed with food to further break down carbs and protein. New chemicals digest the fats and DNA. The totally broken carb, protein, and fat subunits are transported into the blood. The sugars, derived from carbs, are used to provide energy. The subunits of protein, fats, and some sugars are used for growth and repair. The subunits of DNA are used as ink in copying cellular information for new cells. Some vitamins are absorbed, and others are actually made by germs in your intestines. How cool is that?
Why it Matters
Now, please keep in mind something extremely important: everything is broken down into constituent parts. (A tree (the whole thing) versus the veins in the leaves, the pieces of bark and trunk, the pieces of root (constituent parts) might be an illustration.) You can eat all the collagen and gelatin you like, but collagen and gelatin never get into the bloodstream, let alone reach your skin, hair, and nails—only the constituent parts. You can drink all the alkaline water you like, but the stomach will neutralize it; if not, the blood will. It definitely will not bump up your immune system! You can take all the vitamin supplements you like, but the extra will just come out in your urine–or cause massive toxicity. And having all your issues, including body odor, cancer, and radiation, solved by the chlorophyll cleanse? Nope, nope, and nope!
How Science Keeps You Healthy
So, how can we eat for maximum benefit? Eat fruit, vegetables, meat, and whole grains—natural, unprocessed foods. Throw in a few germs for good measure! Your amazing body will do the rest.