During the mixing, an enzyme called salivary amylase starts breaking down carbohydrates. Once the food is soft and relatively flexible, the tongue pushes it to the back of your mouth and into the esophagus.
The stomach is the main site for protein digestion and uses powerful enzymes, known as pepsins, as well as hydrochloric acid, to digest foods like meats, milk, and cheese.
Absorption is a crucial part of the digestive process that brings the molecules from the digested food into the blood and, ultimately, the cells.
Problems with your large intestine can be caused by diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis as well as celiac disease. If parts of these organs become seriously diseased, they may require surgical removal. When this happens, an ostomy may be necessary to aid digestion and elimination.
It also metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; helps regulate blood sugar levels; stores glycogen for quick energy; makes fibrinogen, which clots blood; makes vitamin A; and recycles worn-out red blood cells.
Most people never think about their gallbladder until a problem with gallstones or gallbladder disease, such as cholecystitis, develops. If you have a gallbladder-related disease, you may experience jaundice.
This happens when the bile cannot leave the gallbladder. Instead, the bile enters the bloodstream, which can cause your skin, eyes, and nails to appear yellow.
