How Your Digestive System Works

Our diet and lifestyle are linked to a variety of digestive problems. The overall health of your digestive system is connected to the foods you eat, the exercise you do, and your stress levels.

Your digestive system is a group of organs that transform the food you eat into energy and nutrients for your body. This system interacts with your nervous, immune, endocrine, and other systems to help regulate their function.

Why it's important:

Perhaps the most interesting thing about digestion is that it begins in your brain. Your hypothalamus coordinates your appetite and the amount of food you consume. For example, if you're tired or stressed, chemicals in your brain can influence you to eat more than usual in an attempt to find balance. We call this, as you might have guessed, "cravings."

• Your digestive system is a complex network of organs, systems, tissues, and nerves controlled by your brain.

• You can get rid of your cravings through regular exercise and reducing your overall stress.

Next Steps:

Understanding that cravings are caused by a variety of physiological factors is the first step to controlling them. The next step is deciding which factors you want to change: perhaps starting a new exercise routine or finding ways to reduce daily stress in your life. Most importantly, remember that you can take control of your cravings by making lifestyle changes!

Scientific Source:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Your Digestive System and How It Works. 2018 Mayo Clinic. See How Your Digestive System Works. 2018