Digestive health is how our bodies take in food, break it down, and use the nutrients for energy and growth.

The digestive system is made up of different organs that work together to process the food we eat.

This system includes the mouth, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.

Each part has a specific job to do.

The process of digestion begins in the mouth.

When we eat food, our teeth chew it into smaller pieces.

Saliva, which is the liquid in our mouths, helps soften the food.

After chewing, we swallow the food, which travels down a tube called the esophagus.

This tube connects the throat to the stomach and allows the food to slide down easily.

Once the food arrives in the stomach, it enters a stretchy bag-like organ.

The stomach churns and mixes the food with special juices.

These juices help break down the food into even tinier pieces.

This mixture is called chyme, which is semi-liquid and ready to move on.

The chyme then moves into the small intestine.

The small intestine is a very long and twisty tube where most digestion happens.

Here, nutrients from the food—like vitamins, minerals, and energy—are absorbed into the body and sent to other parts where they are needed.

This is an important step because nutrients are what help our bodies grow and function properly.

After the small intestine, any leftover parts of food that our bodies don't need pass into the large intestine.

The large intestine is shorter but wider than the small intestine.

Its job is to absorb water and turn the leftover food into waste.

The waste eventually leaves our bodies when we go to the bathroom.

Did you know?

Eating a wide variety of healthy foods can help support your digestive health.

Drinking plenty of water and staying active both help keep your digestive system working smoothly!

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