Our bodies work extremely hard to convert the food we eat into something useful. In fact, 70% of the energy our bodies produce each day goes into digesting our food. This is the task of the digestive system. The digestive system begins in the mouth and ends at the anus. It is divided into several parts starting with the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. The liver, pancreas and gallbladder are also part of the digestive system. Together they perform four main functions:

1. Ingestion – the intake of food
2. Digestion – the chemical breakdown of food into usable molecules
3. Absorption – movement of usable (nutrient) molecules into the blood stream.
4. Elimination – removal of solid waste products.

Friendly Flora
Friendly bacteria in our bowel help to fend off disease-causing organisms such as salmonella by producing natural antibiotics. These beneficial bacteria feed on undigested carbohydrates, producing lactic acid which helps keep other organisms such as yeast in check. Other important functions include:

• synthesizing vitamin K, and the B vitamins biotin and pantothenic acid
• synthesizing chemicals which heal the bowel lining and help prevent cancer
• synthesizing acetic acid which keeps the liver from making too much cholesterol
• helping to break down toxic environmental chemicals

The number of bacteria in our bowel can weigh a total of three pounds! Only certain bacteria are suitable residents, however. The type of bacteria that take up residence in our bowel depends to a great degree on the type of food we eat. Fibre-rich foods such as whole grains, legumes and fresh fruits and vegetables help to promote healthy populations of friendly bacteria and discourage harmful strains. Foods made with lactobacilli cultures such as yogurt help replenish supplies of beneficial bacteria. A diet high in refined foods such as white flour and white sugar attracts bacteria that produce large amounts of foul gases and other by-products that can irritate the bowel lining.