Weight Loss: How Digestion Works For the Body

Have you ever heard of the saying, "you become what you eat"? This is very true and is quite literal at that, as the food that we eat becomes part of our body. How, you ask? We will need to review how our body digests food.

Digestion is the process by which our body breaks down the food we eat into nutrients, which the body then uses for cell repair, growth and energy. Food and drink, once broken down into nutrients, is then absorbed by the blood and is carried to the cells throughout the body.

Digestion starts from the Digestive System. Our digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal tract, also called the digestive tract, and the liver, the pancreas, and the gallbladder. The digestive tract is a series of organs responsible for digestion. These organs are hollow to let food pass through from the mouth down to the anus. These hollow organs are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus. Once the food goes through our digestive tract, it mixes with the digestive juices causing the food to break down into smaller molecules that the body can absorb.

The breakdown of food starts when we chew. Chewing starts to break big chunks of food into smaller chunks. Meanwhile, the saliva produced by the salivary glands in the mouth moistens the food so it can easily be swallowed. The saliva also contains enzymes that break down the starches (carbohydrates) from the food.

The swallowed food is then stored in the stomach. The stomach then mixes the food and liquid with it's digestive juices, called stomach acid or gastric acid. From the stomach, the food is then moved to the small intestine. The small intestine then mixes the food with it's digestive juices together with the digestive juices from the pancreas and the liver for further digestion. The body completes the breakdown of food in the small intestine, and this is where the food is absorbed into the blood and passed to other parts of the body.

In the United States, obesity has become a majo`r health issue. According to recent statistics from the CDC more than a third of U.S. adults (78.6 million or 34.9%) are obese. Eating habits are one of the causes identified. To combat this health issue, there has been an increase in promoting weight loss options. This has given rise to numerous diet regimens and workout routines adapted specifically for almost every type of individual. Several exercise machines have also been marketed targeting people who want to lose weight easily.

 Medical practitioners have also developed surgical procedures to help individuals with severe obesity to lose weight. A good example is the gastric bypass procedure. Gastric bypass is surgical procedure that changes how the stomach and small intestine handle the digesting of food. This surgery will make the functional stomach volume smaller, making the individual fuller with less food. If you need consultation, Dr. Christian Birkedal is the most trusted physician for weight loss surgery in Orlando Fl with over 15 years of experience.

Weight Loss: Manage Your Weight by Avoiding These Foods

A lot of people want to lose weight and shed those extra pounds, but they give up because of how hard they think it will be. The problem is, when you talk about weight loss, many people already associate it with rigorous work outs and extreme diets. Losing a lot of weight within a short amount of time is definitely possible, but it is going to be very difficult. You will really need to be dedicated and diligent, putting the work in everyday, often needing to go to the extremes to get results immediately.

People need to realize that you can also lose weight even if it will take a bit more time. The results will not be visible immediately but you will still lose weight, and be healthier and you can do it with less effort. Eating healthy food is a weight loss option that will not give results right away, but it is a surefire way to lose weight. One more example is doing regular exercise.

In severe circumstances where a person who is overweight or obese, that are already suffering associated health risks, and are unsuccessful in losing weight traditionally, are usually advised to opt for surgery for weight loss. Undergoing a sleeve gastrectomy, or say, a gastric bypass procedure, depending on the Doctor's recommendation, is a not an easy decision to make. After the surgery, managing weight is still going to be essential.

The following is a list of food that, according to a study, cause the most weight gain, and avoiding these food or lowering your consumption of them will help you with managing your weight.



 1. Potato chips
Potato chips have become a staple as a snack in small gatherings, get-togethers, or just hanging out with your friends. They contain a lot of salt and oil, and do not satisfy your hunger, easily eaten in large amounts.



2. French fries
Most fast food restaurants offer french fries. French fries are considered to be one of the most harmful food because not only is it delicious and addicting, it also has a lot of calories but do not provide nutrition.



3. Sugar-sweetened drinks
These drinks contain a lot of sugar, dramatically increasing glucose levels in the blood. They easily cause weight gain, and are damaging to health.


4. Sweets and pastries
Cakes, cookies, cupcakes, etc., contain large amounts of sugar and fats and too much is bad for the health. They also have a lot of calories. Eating fruit is better.



5. Processed meats
They have a lot of saturated fat, sodium, calories, and coloring. They taste delicious alright, but not healthy.


 6. Fatty Meat
Beef and pork meat are a good source of protein, but eating too much will also cause weight gain because of the fat they contain. It could also increase cholesterol levels.



 7. Trans fat
A lot of processed food contain trans fat. Trans fat (trans fatty acids) have been shown to raise bad cholesterol levels in the body and lower good cholesterol. This increases the risk of heart disease.

How Does Weight Loss Surgery Changes You From Head To Toe?

Weight loss operations are ideal to get back in shape and regain your health. If you have already made up your mind about the type of weight loss surgery you will undergo and your health insurance company already agreed to toe the bill, you are all set. But before you undergo the process, you might want to learn more about the effects of weight loss surgery from your head to your toe.

Weight loss surgeries can affect just about every aspect of your life. These usually include your eating habits, self-image, and relationships. In order to set realistic expectations, you may want to speak with your surgeon about how much weight you can expect to lose.

The type of weight loss surgery you’ll undergo may determine how much weight you may lose. According to WebMd, weight loss surgeries that affect digestion are generally the ones that result in faster and greater weight loss compared to adjustable banding procedures. Gastric bypass is a good example of this type of surgery. Those who undergo weight loss procedures may expect to lose weight for up to 2 or 3 years after surgery.

Your Eating Habits 

You should expect that weight loss surgery will alter your eating habits. Since most procedures make your pouch tinier, you should expect that you will eat less after the surgery. Meals that appeared tiny in the past will suddenly make you feel full more quickly. The trick is to eat small amounts and chew well.
Surgeons would suggest eating a number of small meals per day. Patients are advised to take more foods that are high in protein. You might also need to avoid drinking any type of fluid when you eat. Taking in fluids will hamper with your feeling of fullness.
And since you will have to eat less than you were used to, you’ll need to keep your focus on nutritious foods. Some types of weight loss surgeries may make it more complex for your body to absorb nutrients. It is highly recommended to speak with your nutritionist on what sorts of foods to eat after weight loss operations. Your nutritionist may require you to take supplements.

Your Self-Image

The positive effects may happen right after gastric bypass or certain other types of weight loss surgery. Health conditions that are related to obesity are expected to improve dramatically. These include high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and other health conditions.
You may start to regain your self-confidence as you see the positive effects of weight loss surgery. As you lose weight, however, you should expect that your skin may look loose and baggy. You may opt for plastic surgery in order to get rid of the extra skin.

Your Relationships

The way you socialize may change after weight loss surgery. If your bonding with friends usually includes eating and drinking, you may need to think of new ways of meeting up with them after your weight loss operation.

Photo Credit: Jasmine Kaloudis  , Caitlin Regan