THE HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

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FORWARD

This article has been prepared by Hamner C. Williams from information in the BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FAMILY MEDICAL GUIDE, published by Meredith Press, 1964.  The purpose is to inform the reader of the human body function during the human digestive system. With an understanding of the digestive system we can better understand our health and better control our weight for a more productive life. With the information, the writer will edit and make comments pertaining to better control of your health and personal self esteem.

 

HUMAN ANATOMY

 

This photo show the structures of the human torso. It shows body mass, bone and some of the organs of the human body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The saliva-producing glands are the parotid glands (1) in front and below the ear, the sublingual gland (2), and the sub maxillary gland (3). The glands are paired on each side of the face. Saliva contains an enzyme which begins to split starches into simple sugars.  The saliva begins the process to split starches from the food you eat into simple sugars. The better you chew your food, the better this process can work and you will get more nourishment from the food you eat. and chewing your food well you can eat less. Less not forget the taste that are located in the tongue which gives us the taste of our food. Taste are divided into four sensations: bitter, salt, sweet, and sour. With a combination of these taste we can identify different foods. When we swallow the food is channel through the gullet or what we call the Esophagus or throat to the stomach.

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This photo shows the digestive system and some of the organs that assist in the process, going through the throat (1); stomach (2); liver (3); gallbladder (4); common duct (5); duodenum, beginning of the small intestine (6); pancreas, develops digestive juices (7); large intestine (10, 11, 12, 14); rectum (13); cecum, the entry of the small intestine (9); the large intestine, the small wormlike structure is the appendix (15).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The stomach has three layers of smooth muscle running in different direction: circular (1); longitudinal (2); and oblique (3). Foods enter the fundus, stomach (6) from the esophagus or throat (5), and the content of the stomach is discharged at intervals through the pylorus or end of the stomach (4) into the small intestine. The stomach is located rather high that some people think, lying mainly behind the lower ribs, not under the naval, and does not occupy the belly, a region for which "stomach" is sometimes a misused of location. There is no fix shape of the stomach which wholes 1-1/2 quarts of food and liquid. Swallowed food arrived into the stomach and is mixed with juices and made more liquid. Nothing is absorbed through the stomach walls except alcohol. Watery materials such as soup and liquid leaves the stomach quite rapidly. Fats remain in the stomach considerably longer. The "staying power" of a meal depends largely on quantities and proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that compose it. An ordinary mixed diet meal is emptied from an ordinary stomach in three to five hours.

With this information on the stomach process and how it processes the food we eat in about three to five hours and your are over weight, fat, or obese, you need to restrict or cut back the amount you eat and what you eat. I suggest you eat no more than a cup full every four hours and your main meal consist of no more than 16 oz. or2 cups of food. This will satisfy the hunger and provide the stomach with time to process your food.

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Digestion is completed in the small intestine and virtually all absorption of food occurs there. The small intestine are about 22-feet or greater in length and is compactly wound in the abdomen. The juices from the mouth (when you chew and swallow) with the food passes through the stomach where additional juices are added and the food is more liquid. Coming into play for this digestive process is the liver, gallbladder and fluids from the stomach. Digestion is a chemical of converting food materials, by action, into smaller and simpler units which can penetrate barriers and enter the body. Digested carbohydrate's and proteins (food) are absorbed into the blood vessels and carried to the liver.

Let's take a look here as to what can happen  if someone over eats. They have over burden the stomach and now they have over burden the small intestine in processing the food. This gives them an over abundance of nutrients which adds to their weight problems, eat less, eat every four hours and eat your veggies. Another approach to assist is to exercise, start by walking around the block for a week, the next walk two block, and the following week walk around the two blocks at a faster pace and etc. Cutting back on how much you eat, eating properly and exercise will do wonders over a 6 month period.

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The large intestine or called bowels (1, 2, 3 4); the rectum (5). Much water is reabsorbed from the colon into the bloodstream. Drawing shows pathways of absorption into the veins (6) and then to portal system, the liver (7). Material entering the large intestine is quite watery. There is very little absorbed from the large intestine except water. Material which enter the large intestine in a liquid state becomes semisolid as intestine. In contrast to the germ-free stomach, the intestines are lavishly populated with bacteria. A large part of the waste from the large intestine is composed of bacteria, along with indigestible foods. Make sure that your system functions on a daily bases and if it does not see your doctor for the safe laxative for you. You may want to flush your system every six months to make sure of eliminating the excess bacteria and food and drink plenty of water will make you feel better.

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The liver has a large right lobe, a smaller tapering left lobe, an area served by vessels and ducts that connect with larger vessels. The tip of the underlying gallbladder (1) projected below the liver edge. A yellow or greenish fluid secreted by the liver is collected through (2) and passed to the intestine (3).

Organs which are not an integral part of the alimentary tube are vital to digestive and nutrition. The liver is an incomparable chemical plant. It can break down many kinds of toxics and make them harmless. It is a blood reservoir and a storage organ for some vitamins and for digested carbohydrate which is released to sustain blood sugar levels. The liver through the gallbladder produces a fluid (bile) which assists digestion.

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The kidney form urine, filter many materials from the blood, and return materials to the body to maintain proper electrolytes and fluid. The photo shows the solid right kidney (1) and left kidney (2). Each kidney receives blood from artery (3) and blood is returned to general circulation through vein (4). The white arrows show the direction of blood flow. Urine is collected into cuplike chambers (5) which opens into the kidney cavity or pelvis (6). The black arrow shows the direction of flow of urine. The merges of the flow (7), a tube which carries urine into the bladder (8). The bladder is a storage chamber and at times discharges urine through the urethra (9). About 1,700 quarts of blood flows through the kidney each day. The kidneys filter materials from the blood in highly selective ways and discharges about 1 1/2 quarts of urine per day, depending on the intake of fluid per day.

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This is just a recap of what has been presented before with just a different photo. See if you can find the following: Appendix, Bladder, large intestine, Kidney, and Rectum. Answer: 12, 18, 31, 91, 128.

I hope this will help you in understanding your body digestion system and assist you in developing better eating habits for a more enjoyable life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Doctors warn of health crisis as obesity gains on Americans.

LIVING LARGE IN AMERICA

Edited from an article written by Laura Bell of the Dallas Morning News.

Almost 10 years ago, when the number of overweight Americans hovered around 25 percent of the population, public-health experts set out to lower that statistic by the century's end. Instead, the population tightened its grip on cheeseburgers and remote controls. Obesity rates soared.

Now, about half the population is at least somewhat overweight. And nearly one-quarter of adult Americans are considered obese, carrying and extra 30 pounds or more.

"We are facing a real epidemic of obesity," said Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, director of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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WHAT IS OBESITY?

The term obesity describes too much body fat. Doctors don't measure this by just looking at the numbers on the scale or comparing a patient's body with those of movie stars. They use a measurement called body mass index, or BMI. BMI is determined by taking a person's weight in pounds and dividing that number by the height in inches squared. Then multiply the result by 704.5 BMI=Weight in pounds (divided by) Height in inches and (squared)=________ X 704.5. A BMI less that 18.5, you are under weight. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9, you are normal weight. A BMI of 25 to 29.9, you are overweight. A BMI of 30 or above, you are clinically obese.

For the U.S. historically data at top, overweight was defined as a BMI greater than about 27; 1998 guidelines lowered that threshold to 25. Under the new standard, 55 percent of U.S. adults are overweight.

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Height & Weight Table For Women

Height
Feet Inches    
Small
Frame
Medium
Frame     
Large
Frame 
4' 10"      102-111 109-121 118-131
4' 11" 103-113 111-123 120-134
5' 0" 104-115 113-126 122-137
5' 1" 106-118 115-129 125-140
5' 2" 108-121 118-132 128-143
5' 3" 111-124 121-135 131-147
5' 4" 114-127 124-138 134-151
5' 5" 117-130 127-141 137-155
5' 6" 120-133 130-144 140-159
5' 7" 123-136 133-147 143-163
5' 8" 126-139 136-150 146-167
5' 9" 129-142 139-153 149-170
5' 10" 132-145 142-156 152-173
5' 11" 135-148 145-159 155-176
6' 0" 138-151 148-162 158-179

 

 

Height & Weight Table For Men

Height
Feet Inches
Small
Frame
Medium
Frame
Large
Frame
5' 2" 128-134 131-141 138-150
5' 3" 130-136 133-143 140-153
5'' 4" 132-138 135-145 142-156
5' 5" 134-140 137-148 144-160
5' 6" 136-142 139-151 146-164
5' 7" 138-145 142-154 149-168
5' 8" 140-148 145-157 152-172
5' 9" 142-151 148-160 155-176
5' 10" 144-154 151-163 158-180
5' 11" 146-157 154-166 161-184
6' 0" 149-160 157-170 164-188
6' 1" 152-164 160-174 168-192
6' 2" 155-168 164-178 172-197
6' 3" 158-172 167-182 176-202
6' 4" 162-176 171-187 181-207

 

 

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SUMMARY                                                                                                                                                                          

You have been given photos of the digestive system of the human body and obesity information. Information starts with food being chewed in the mouth and the production of saliva to start the digestion process.  It has been identified that taste has been divided into four sensations; bitter, salt, sweet, and sour. With this combination of taste, sight and feel we can identify the food we eat and determine if we like them or not. Another factor in liking or disliking food we eat and determine if we like them or not. Another factor liking or disliking foods has to do with the environment in which we were raised, example; dad does not like peas, etc. After chewing the food it is passed through the throat to the stomach and is mixed with juices and from glands that aid in the process. Nothing is absorbed through the stomach walls except alcohol. Watery material such as soup and liquid (as water) leaves the stomach quite rapidly. Fatty foods remain in the stomach considerably longer. A well balanced mea with less fat is emptied from the stomach in three to five hours.

Digestion is primarily completed in the small intestine where the process converts the food into carbohydrates and proteins which allows it to  be absorbed into the blood. The large intestine primary functions is to reabsorb the liquid and enter it into the blood. That which remains in the large intestines called waste or bowels which passes through the rectum. It takes 12 to 14 hours for the large intestine to complete its function. the liver is a chemical plant that breaks down the toxic and make them harmless. The liver also assist in the digestive process and is a storage for blood and sustain blood sugar levels. The kidney form urine by filtering many materials from the blood and return material to the body to maintain proper electrolytes and fluid.

From the information you have received, there are portions of the body that are affected by your being overweight and they are; brain, severe blood pressure elevation which is uncontrolled is apt to weakness and cerebral arteries giving rise, in turn, to cerebral hemorrhage (stroke). Blood quality, the development of red and white blood cells. Teeth, improper food will cause tooth decay. We have already mentioned the stomach, liver, kidney, intestines, bladder and the digestive system process. Additional organs affected; lungs, develop oxygen to the blood; legs, causes varicose veins problems; weight in it's proper place; back, your spine and back muscles, straining trying to keep you upright so you can walk. All of this is why we see so many people in such bad shape and they do nothing about their health. With this information, if they don't take action about their condition, guess what, it's their choice.

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SUGGESTIONS

1. I would like for you to review and read this material once each day for seven days straight. This will give you a better understanding and you will learn the process. I want you to learn this so that whenever you are eating you will remember what is taken place.

2. Be aware that the time you finish eating it will take the food 3 to 5 hours to pass through the stomach, another 3 to 5 hours to pass through the small intestine and another 12 to 14 to pass through the large intestine for a total of 18 to 24 hours. This is why its important that you be aware of the amount you eat, what you eat and how often you eat.

3. We all  need to be aware of this process and to change our eating habits. To do this I suggest that you determine what you would like to eat for each meal and plan an alternative menu for change.

4. It is recommended that you try the one cup idea for two meals and a balance meal for the third meal. If you have a problem, you may want to do the one cup full and eat four or five times a day. Not eating any more than the cup full each time.

5. You and only you can make the changes in your life to improve your health. Not your doctor, not your physiatrist, not your spouse or your friends; only you by taking short steps  you can improve your physical and your mental health  which will improve your self esteem and by doing this you can help others. What I mean by short steps; is changing your eating habits by something and eating proper for breakfast. Once your have breakfast under control step (2) would be changing your eating habits for lunch. Step (3) change your eating habit for your dinner meal and snacks. Eliminate sweets whenever possible and sodium (salt). One of the major problems in obesity is caring of the extra weight which puts major stress on  your knees, which will cause a knee replacement in later years and back problems which you will have for life.

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