Functions of the gastrointestinal tract

The gastrointestinal tract starts atr the mouth and continues all the way down until the anus. The GI tract releases hromones to aid in digestion and absorption of important vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

The GI tract consists of the upper intestinal tract and the lower intestinal tract.

The upper part of GI tract is the esophagus and the stomach.

The lower intestinal tract consists of the small intestine and the large intestine.

The Small Intestine

Digestive juices from the pancreas and bile from the gallbladder mix in the small intestine to break down proteins and bile and emulsify fats with other enzymes to help neutralize the HCI in the stomach. Parts of the small intestine also have villi that absorb vitamins and minerals into the bloodstream.

The Large Intestine

The large intestine consists of ascending colon, transverse colon, and the descending colon. The main function of the colon is to absorb water and help in the elimination of waste from the body. It also contains beneficial bacteria that produce necessary vitamins for the body.

The gut wall (or the intestinal wall) is lined with absorbtive tissue known as "epithelium." The esophagus (the food pipe), the stomach, and the small intestine each have a different type of epithelium lining.

Villi are the harilike protrusions from the epithelium coating the inner side of the gut wall. Microvilli are minute hairs that comprise the villi and absorb all the minerals and vitamins from the food traveling down the digestive tract (or GI tract).

The purpose of the epithelium lining is different in each part. In the esophagus it is mostly protective as a lining to guard against foreign objects from damaging the esophageal wall.

in the small intestine, the epithelium specializes in absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrition in to the bloodstream and vital body organs.

In the stomach, is is organized into gastric pits and glands to secrete the necessary enzymes that aid in food breakdown and digestion.

Unhealthy villi do not have the separated tentacles able to absorb and digest the minerals and nutrients of the food. They cling together because of the fatty substances from the unhealthy foods consumed from most fast food diets.

Probiotics antagonize and battle the mucosal fungus created by pathogenic bacteria that cling to the villi in the intestinal tract and tend to restrict the flow of beneficial nourishment into the system. The cells of healthy flora engulf the pathogenic bacteria and depritve them of healthier digestive system promises you more longevity and a healthier lifestyle.

Probiotic live bacteria facilitate the metabolizing of undigested food components in the digestive tract. They also aid the intestinal walls to produce the secretions needed for the proper absorption of vital nutrients into the organs of the body. When probiotics are coupled with prebiotic ingredients, there is an increase in the absorption of magnesium, potassium, calcium, and zinc into the intestinal tract.