The stomach is one of the 21 organs of our body, fulfilling a primary function in the important process of digest the food we eat daily. It is a delicate area that deserves care in order to keep the gastric mucosa healthy, avoiding annoying conditions such as gastritis or stomach ulcers.
Understanding the work carried out in our body is essential to discover the attention it deserves, so in this OneHowTo article we explain what is the function of the stomach and how to ensure your well-being to the maximum.
Store the food we eat
Stomach is one of the parts of the digestive system, also composed of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, liver, spleen, and small and large intestines. When we introduce a food to our mouth, a complex procedure begins that consists of taking advantage of the nutrients in that ingredient and discarding what the body does not need, a process in which this organ plays an important role.
When we chew we grind the food to form, thanks to the saliva, the food bolus, it will go down through the esophagus to the stomach, where it will remain stored to start the digestion process.
This organ has the ability to expand to offer proper food storage. An empty adult stomach has a volume of around 50 ml, however it is capable of increase up to 80 times its size storing even up to 4 liters of food. The time that food lasts in our stomach will depend on the type of food we have eaten, the correct chewing and also the amount of food, water for example is digested in just 20 minutes while meat can take up to 3 hours and foods very high in fat even 8.
Break down food
Once stored in the stomach, the process of breaking down food begins, also known as digestion. In this organ, the food bolus is mixed with stomach acids and enzymes, which break it down into even smaller pieces to form what is known as chyme, a semi-liquid mass through which the nutrients we consume are used. The contraction of the stomach muscles also helps the decomposition of food to occur, promoting digestion.
It is in this organ where proteins and lipids or fats that we eat in food are digested, so when we consume a lot of food or an excess of fat in food, we can feel like the digestion process is slower and heavier.
Facilitate the passage of chyme to the intestine
Once the chyme is formed, it is time to continue with the digestion process, so the stomach is releasing the chyme in a completely controlled way and in small quantities to give way to the small intestine, an area in which they will be taken advantage of vitamins and nutrients of the ingredients we eat.
A good digestion of food will facilitate the process of taking advantage of nutrients, ensuring that we absorb the properties of our food to the maximum.
Eliminate the presence of bacteria that you may have ingested
Do you have any idea how many possible bacteria reach our stomach each day? That is why a function of the stomach that should be highlighted is its ability to kill bacteria and infectious organisms that access our stomach through the food or substances we eat. This is achieved thanks to the powerful corrosive acid that it secretes during digestion, which does not affect stomach health because a layer of mucosa covers and protects this organ.
However, when the stomach lining is inflamed or affected by the presence of any bacteria, virus or condition that is resistant to these acids, such as Helicobacter pylori, it can deteriorate causing acids to begin to affect this organ causing discomfort and triggering the presence of certain gastric conditions. Gastritis and stomach ulcers are the most common conditions of this type.
Take care of your stomach
Now that you know the functions of the stomach, it is clear the importance of take proper care of this organ to guarantee the correct digestive process. Eating a balanced and healthy diet, chewing food well, eating calmly, and reducing daily stress are some ways to keep you healthy.
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