ISSA Certified Nutritionist: Food Path

ISSA Certified Nutritionist Exam
Name
Institution
Due Date
ISSA Certified Nutritionist Exam
Briefly describe the path of food through the digestive system and explain each organ’s role in the digestive process. Research two digestive dysfunctions that occur and discuss how each of them could impact a person’s health.
The digestive system starts in the mouth and ends in the anus. It is made up of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs, namely the liver, tongue, pancreas, and the gallbladder. The gastrointestinal tract is made up of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. In the digestive system, food and drinks are broken down into parts that can be absorbed by our bodies. Fats are broken down into glycerol and fatty acids, carbohydrates are broken into simple sugars, and proteins are broken into amino acids.
Digestion starts in the mouth where food is chewed. Here, chewing is the only activity that takes place with the help of salivary glands. Saliva helps to moisten food, thus making it easier for it to move to the next part of the tract. Also, saliva has an enzyme that starts to break down starch.
The next part of the gastrointestinal tract is the esophagus. This particular part mainly allows a process known as peristalsis to take place. What peristalsis does is allow food to be pushed down the esophagus after you have swallowed. The process of peristalsis mainly involves the contraction and relaxation of muscles as food moves down the throat.
After food has moved through the esophagus, the next part is the stomach. The sphincter allows food to enter the stomach where digestion continues as well. In the stomach, a further breakdown...