VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2014
A SLICE OF ORANGE Refreshing Your Health
SYSTEM IN FOCUS: THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM • The upper gastrointestinal tract • The accessory glands • The lower gastrointestinal tract
System in focus: The digestive system WHETHER YOU EAT TO LIVE, OR LIVE TO EAT, A HEALTHY DIGESTIVE SYSTEM WILL FILL YOU UP.
Like us on Facebook facebook.com/BenefitsMadeBetter
Food and water are two of the basic needs of the human body. Unlike plants that can make their own food, humans and other animals need to take in nutrients from the food they eat.
A SLICE OF ORANGE
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2014
The digestive system is the main worker in the intake of nutrients from food. By taking a look at how the digestive system works, and what could go wrong, we can understand how diseases of the digestive system develop, and how to keep your digestive system healthy. Many disease can develop in the digestive system. We will discuss only the most common ones.
The upper gastrointestinal tract
the food into the small intestines over the
the protective mechanisms of the upper gas-
course of two hours.
trointestinal tract. These stimuli include stress, caffeine, smoking,and the use of certain anti-
Eating and drinking starts with the mouth.
What could go wrong
inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids
As you eat and drink,
There are many diseases that can af-
and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
you ingest a small
fect the upper gastrointestinal tract (mouth,
such as naproxen, mefenamic acid, or ibu-
amount of food, that
esophagus, and stomach). However, the
profen, among others.
is then chewed into
most common problem arises because of
small pieces by your
the acid the stomach produces. The acid
Staying healthy
teeth. At the same time, the food mixes with
the stomach produces is very strong and can
There are many ways to avoid acid-
saliva, which contains enzymes that begin to
damage the walls of the stomach, leading
related diseases. First of all, avoid the
break down the food into more simple mol-
to gastric ulcers. The acid can also reflux
triggers of acid secretion. These include
ecules. You then swallow the soft mixture of
back into the esophagus, leading to tisue
avoidance of caffeine, smoking, and the
food and saliva down to your esophagus,
damage and irritation—a condition called
medicines mentioned previously. For pain,
which leads to your stomach.
gastroesophageal reflux. Gastric ulcers and
you may still use paracetamol, or safer
The stomach is a hollow, sack-like organ
gastroesophageal reflux can cause abdom-
alternatives that your doctor can prescribe.
that stores up to a liter of food. It produces
inal pain, usually in the upper part of the
A heavy meal can trigger acid secretion,
a strong acid, which activates the enzyme
abdomen right under the ribcage. They can
and is more likely to be pushed back into the
called pepsin. This enzyme helps break
also cause vomiting and bloatedness.
esophagus. Instead of eating a heavy meal,
down proteins into smaller molecules called
eat small meals frequently. This will also help
peptides. The stomach then slowly releases
stimuli that increase acid secretion and lower
you lose weight.
The accessory glands
What could go wrong
Staying healthy
The most common condition affecting
The first step to avoiding hepatitis is to
the accessory glands is hepatitis (inflamma-
drink alcohol moderately—up to only two
tion of the liver). The most common cause of
servings in a day. Avoid binge drinking.
hepatitis are viruses (hepatitis A to E), and
Viral hepatitis A and E can be avoided
alcohol intake. In both circumstances, the liv-
by washing and cooking food well before
er cells become damaged and inflammed,
eating, and avoid eating food that you are
leading to a number of symptoms, including
not sure is prepared hygienically.
The stomach slowly releases the food to
abdominal pain, flu-like symptoms, jaundice
Hepatitis A and B are vaccine-prevent-
the small intestines. As the food enters the
(yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine,
able diseases. Consult your doctor to know
small intestines, the accessory glands begin
and pale-colored stool. Hepatitis A and E
if you are a good candidate for hepatitis
to work. These are the liver, pancreas and
are transmitted through contaminated food
A/B vaccination.
gallbladder. The liver produces bile, which
and water. Hepatitis B, C, and D are mostly
helps dissolve and absorb fat. The pancreas
transmitted through exchange of contami-
body fluids, by using barrier methods (i.e.,
produces a number of enzymes that break
nated body fluids, usually from unprotected
condom) during sex, getting tattoos from
down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into
sexual intercourse, unhygienic tattoos, and
regulated tattoo shops, and avoiding the
absorbable molecules. The gallbladder
sharing of personal items such as toothbrush-
sharing of personal items.
stores bile, and releases it into the small in-
es and razors; and from mother to infant
testines where it mixes with food.
during childbirth.
Acid-related diseases can be caused by
Lastly, prevent transmission from infected
A SLICE OF ORANGE
The lower gastrointestinal tract
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2014
microbes feed the lining of the colon, and
Lastly, avoid lactose intolerance in your
also suppress the growth of disease-causing
children by introducing milk to them when
microbes.
they are young. This will stimulate their bodies to increase their capacity to digest milk.
What can go wrong
For adults, you can take lactase supple-
The most common disorder affecting the
ments. However, if intolerance to lactose is
small and large intestines is diarrhea. This
severe, it is best to avoid lactose altogether
condition is caused by a variety of factors:
by using lactose-free products.
infections from contaminated food or water,
After food mixes with bile and pancre-
antibiotic use leading to death of beneficial
you can be assured that the rest of your body
atic enzymes, and is broken down into small-
intestinal microbes, and malabsorption of nu-
is well nurished and healthy as well.
er molecules, it continues throughout its 7
trients, such as in lactose intolerance. In the
meters of small intestines. Throughout its
case of lactose intolerance, the body is un-
length, most of the nutrients are absorbed
able to digest and absorb lactose, the sugar
into the blood. Whatever is left gets dumped
found in milk.
By keeping your digestive system healthy,
to the 1.5 meter long large intestines (colon), which is shorter but wider than the small in-
Staying healthy
testines. Here, water and salts are absorbed.
What is left, usually made of intestinal bacte-
eating well cooked food and drinking clean
ria, fiber and undigested food, becomes our
water (if unsure, boil your drinking water for
stool, that is evacuated through the rectum
at least 2 minutes).
and anus.
The small and large intestines is home
of the use of probiotics such as cultured milk
to billions of microbes, most of which pro-
or cultured yogurt in promoting intestinal
mote intestinal health. They digest carbo-
health. Take at least one serving of these
hydrates into fatty acids that is used by the
foods to replenish your gut with healthy
colon as an energy source. These “healthy””
bacteria.
The first step to preventing diarrhea is by
I am a personal believer and proponent
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelinkbenefits.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2014 ActiveLink
Benefits Made Better
ActiveLink 7/F Electra House Building 115-117 Esteban St., Legaspi Village, Makati City www.activelinkbenefits.com
A Slice of Orange
is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD