The Digestive Process: How Your Body Works From the Inside Out

Digestion is a continuous process that often seems obvious until it breaks down. Yet, this system plays a central role in your overall health. Everything you eat and drink is broken down, absorbed, and transported throughout your body through the digestive system.

In this article, we'll take you through the digestive process: what happens in your body, which organs are involved, and which nutrients are commonly used to support your natural digestion.

This blog in a nutshell

Digestion is a complex interplay of organs, enzymes, and nerve signals. A balanced diet, a high-fiber diet, and sufficient nutrients form the foundation. Calcium contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes.* The effects of other nutrients used to support digestion, such as probiotics, are still being studied and their effectiveness has not been proven.*

*Health claim pending approval by EFSA.

Why is proper digestion so important?

Your digestion makes nutrients available to your body. Without this process, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats wouldn't be absorbed, and your organs and systems wouldn't receive the nutrients they need to function properly.

During digestion:
• foods are broken down mechanically and chemically
• nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal wall
• waste products are removed

A well-functioning digestive system indirectly supports your energy levels, immune system, and overall vitality. The process is constantly active and sensitive to factors such as stress, food choices, and eating habits.

Essence
Digestion is essential for the absorption of nutrients and is a foundational process for your overall health.

How does the digestive process work?

Digestion begins before the first bite and takes place in several steps:

1. Mouth
Chewing mechanically breaks down food and saliva contains enzymes that initiate the initial breakdown of carbohydrates.

2. Esophagus and stomach
Through the esophagus, food enters your stomach, where stomach acid and enzymes further break down proteins before it is transported to the small intestine.

3. Small intestine
Bile and pancreatic juices are added to the small intestine. This is where most of the digestion and absorption of nutrients takes place.

4. Large intestine
In the large intestine, water and salts are extracted, and indigestible waste is further processed before leaving the body. This process usually goes unnoticed, but it requires a great deal of energy and coordination within the body.

Essence
Digestion is a series of closely linked steps that take place in your mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.

The role of enzymes, nervous system and intestinal flora

Besides organs, less visible systems also play an important role:

Digestive enzymes
These enzymes are involved in the breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Calcium plays a crucial role in activating digestive enzymes.

Nervous system
The intestines are directly connected to the nervous system. Stress and tension can affect the motility of the gastrointestinal tract.

Intestinal flora (microorganisms)
Billions of microorganisms live in the intestines. Their composition is influenced by diet, lifestyle, and age. We call this whole organism the "microbiome." The precise functioning and balance of these microorganisms is the subject of extensive scientific research. We now know that the majority of our immune system resides in our microbiome.

Essence
Digestion is regulated by enzymes, nerve signals and intestinal microorganisms that together ensure a balanced course of the process.

Important nutrients for your digestion

What you eat and how you eat plays a major role in how your digestion functions. Factors often mentioned include:

• Eat quietly and chew well
• Regularity in meals
• Sufficient fiber from vegetables, fruits and whole grains
• Adequate fluid intake

It's therefore important to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to ensure you get enough fiber. The mineral calcium, found in dairy products, green vegetables, chia seeds, and whole grains, is also important. It even has an officially approved health claim: calcium contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes.

In addition to the tips and nutrients mentioned above, some people choose to use supplements as part of their lifestyle and to support their digestion. Popular supplements and nutrients include:

• (Psyllium) fibres (for example from plants or seeds)
• Calcium
• Fermented foods (such as sauerkraut or kefir)
• Supplements with micro-organisms (natural intestinal bacteria)*
• Digestive enzymes*

The effects and effectiveness of many of these substances are still being researched and can vary from person to person. The results of scientific research on these substances are sometimes promising, but inconclusive. Therefore, these nutrients do not yet have any approved health claims.

Essence
Diet, eating habits, and specific nutrients together form the foundation for a well-functioning digestive process. Various nutrients are used by people who consciously want to support their digestion, as a supplement to their diet and lifestyle*, but their effectiveness has not yet been scientifically proven.

Finally

Digestion is a complex and intelligent system that works for you day and night. By eating mindfully, taking breaks during meals, and paying attention to your body's needs, you create the best conditions for this process to run smoothly.
Supplements and specific nutrients can be part of that focus, but they always complement a healthy lifestyle. By listening to your body and choosing a consistent, healthy, fiber-rich diet, you support your digestion naturally and sustainably.