Understanding Digestion and Exercise
The digestive system functions through a complex network of organs and processes that work together to break down food and absorb nutrients. This page explores the relationship between digestion and physical activity, particularly focusing on how exercise affects nutrient processing.
Definition: Digestion is the process of breaking down food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed through the intestine wall into the bloodstream.
Vocabulary: Absorption refers to the process where digested nutrients pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream.
Example: During rest, blood flow is distributed fairly evenly among organs, with the gut receiving 25-30%, kidneys 20-25%, and muscles 15-20%.
Highlight: During exercise, blood flow distribution changes dramatically, with muscles receiving 80-85% while digestive organs receive significantly less.
Quote: "Since the digestive system effectively closes down during vigorous exercise (in order to conserve energy), any food eaten in a period before hand, particularly high in protein, is likely to stay in your digestive system during the duration."
The page also details how different nutrients are processed:
- Carbohydrates (like bread and pasta) break down into glucose
- Proteins (such as fish and chicken) break down into amino acids
- Fats (found in foods like burgers and chips) break down into fatty acids and glycerol
Exercise has dual effects on digestion:
- It temporarily slows down the digestive system to conserve energy for muscle activity
- Over time, it strengthens muscles which can improve overall digestive efficiency
