Introduction
The digestive system plays an important role in the well-being of a person’s whole body. When people eat food, it goes through a long process which is called digestion. The system itself is pretty complicated, and it consists of several different parts. Eating, as pleasant as it might be, has the purpose of sustaining people’s lives by delivering energy to their organs. Energy comes from macronutrients that are stored within various foods. Not all macronutrients are the same; there are carbs, proteins, and lipids, and all of them are needed for a living organism to work well. For a person’s body and mind to be healthy, they must pay attention to what they eat and what it does to their body.
Digestive System
The digestive system consists of different organs, each of which has an important role. First is the mouth, through which the food enters the body. Next is the esophagus, an organ responsible for bringing food to the person’s stomach, where food goes through the process of smushing by enzymes. The food needs to be smushed so that energy can be made. The small intestine continues this process and later takes in all the nutrients needed for the energy (“Digestive system,” 2021). The pancreas creates enzymes that turn food into a special substance called insulin, which is a hormone that regulates sugar in a person’s body.
The liver’s main goal is to process the nutrients taken in by the small intestine. It basically takes the nutrients delivered to it and carves and bends them into what is needed for the organism. Gallbladder stores bile, which is used later to break down lipids. The colon takes care of waste that is left after nutrients and important chemicals have been processed. The colon is connected to the rectum, an eight-inch container for the waste until it can be emptied through the anus (“Digestive system,” 2021). Anus plays a role of a regulator that stops waste from coming out when it is not needed.
Macronutrients and Their Use for Energy
Now, it is time to take a closer look at what is happening with the food itself. Like it was said before, food has different macronutrients in it that are needed for a body to function. These macronutrients are carbohydrates (carbs), proteins, and lipids, and each of them plays a different role. Carbs are the main source of energy and consist of sugar and starches. Some carbs can be transformed into glycogen and then put away for later use. Proteins are used in three different ways; first of all, for re-building cells and helping the immune system. Second of all, they are used to make energy, and lastly, as a foundation for other things that a body needs. Lipids are also needed to supply the body with energy, and they help to deliver substances that the body needs, but cannot create (“Digestive system,” 2021). They make it easier to take in various vitamins, for example, A, D, E, and K. Without vitamins, a person risks catching different diseases, and their well-being suffers. Besides that, lipids give foods texture and flavor, encouraging people to eat.
Conclusion
In conclusion, digestion is a very complicated process that helps create energy for a body to work. The digestive system consists of parts that play different roles, with the main goal of breaking the food down and delivering important macronutrients to the body. These macronutrients are carbs, proteins, and lipids, and they are used for various activities. If any of them are lacking in the food that a person eats, they can have serious health problems.
Reference
Digestive system. (2021). Web.