The digestive system of the body involves several organs and is quite complex.
The system of digestion starts in the mouth and continues on for 27 to 30 feet, in a normal adult, to the anus. The 30 feet of tube is called the alimentary canal.
The alimentary canal includes
- mouth
- esophagus
- stomach
- duodenum
- small intestine
- colon (large intestine)
The liver and pancreas aid in digestion but are not included in the alimentary canal.
The purpose of digestion is to take the food that is eaten and break it down into nutrients - Nutrients are the basic materials that the body uses.
The food that is ingested can be classified into groups of nutrients such as:
- starch
- sugar
- fat
- protein
- minerals
- vitamins
These nutrients must pass through the four digestive juices in order to be prepared for absorption into the blood stream to be used by the cells:
- saliva
- gastric juice
- pancreatic juice
- bile
During a typical lifetime the digestion system processes between 60,000 and 100,000 pounds of food.
There are three classes of foods that the body needs to maintain proper function.
CLASS ONE -- HEAT AND ENERGY FOODS
STARCH
- Cereals
- Breads
- Macaroni
- Tapioca
- Certain Vegetables
SUGAR
- Sugar
- Maple Sugar
- Sorghum
- Honey
- Sweet Fruits
FATS
- Olives
- Vegetable Oils
- Salad Oils
- Nuts
- Soy Beans
- Milk
CLASS TWO--BUILDING AND REPAIR
PROTEIN
- Grains
- Soy Beans
- Peas
- Beans
- Lentils
- Nuts
CLASS THREE--REGULATORS OF BODY PROCESSES
WATER
- Pure fruit or vegetable juices
- Fruit
- Vegetables
CELLULOSE
- Indigestible Matter
- Bran
- Framework of Fruits and Vegetables
MINERALS
- Bran of Cereals
- Vegetables
- Fruit
- Nuts
VITAMINS
- The vital spark which activates the other food elements, without which growth cannot occur or continue.