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10: Digestive System and Nutrition

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    191969
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    • 10.1: Introduction to the Digestive System
      The digestive system consists of organs that break down food, absorb its nutrients, and expel any remaining waste. Organs of the digestive system are shown in the following figure. Most of these organs make up the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Food actually passes through these organs. The rest of the organs of the digestive system are called accessory organs. These organs secrete enzymes and other substances into the GI tract, but food does not actually pass through them.
    • 10.2: The Digestive System Microbiome
      Most of the bacteria that normally live in the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract live in the large intestine. They have important and mutually beneficial relationships with the human organism. We provide them with a great place to live, and they provide us with many benefits, some of which you can read about below. Besides the large intestine and its complement of helpful bacteria, the lower GI tract also includes the small intestine. The latter is arguably the most important organ of the digest
    • 10.3: Gastrointestinal Disorders
      Gastrointestinal disorders may impact the entire digestive system or just one portion. They may have wide-ranging impacts or be temporary with mild symptoms. It is common to experience one or more gastrointestinal disorders during a lifetime.
    • 10.4: Healthy Eating and Nutrition
      Healthy eating reduces the risk factor for many human diseases and disorders, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. Depending on genetic factors, healthy eating can extend an individual's lifespan. In fact, an unhealthy diet is one of the leading preventable causes of death. A healthy diet also has cognitive and psychological health benefits.

    Thumbnail: Normal GI Tract. National Cancer Institute CC0


    This page titled 10: Digestive System and Nutrition is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Tara Jo Holmberg via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.