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Did you know that your digestive system is similar to a laundry detergent? The digestive system is a group of organs in your body that helps you digest the food and liquids you consume. It even takes care of the food waste! The human digestive system is long and essential for our survival. If you love eating food you must know about the digestive system. This blog covers some of the interesting facts about our digestive system. Get to know these facts, and let you know which one surprised you the most.
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10 Facts About Digestive System You Never Knew
These are the top 10 facts about the digestive system you may have never heard of. These facts will surprise you and will make you learn more about your body.
1. You Produce 1 Liter of Saliva in a Day
One of the most interesting facts about the digestive system is that it helps your body produce 1 litre of saliva. Saliva is in fact one of the first steps of the digestion process. The food breaks down through chewing, and with the presence of saliva. Saliva lubricates food for easy passage into the oesophagus. You can produce saliva just by thinking about it or even by smelling food!
2. Your Digestive System is 30ft Long
One of the cool facts about the digestive system is that it is at least 30 feet long! That is, from your mouth to the anus. Your digestive system consists of the mouth, oesophagus, liver, stomach, biliary tract, gallbladder, small intestine, and large intestine. Together they help in breaking down food and helping you absorb important nutrients.
3. Hydrochloric Acid Can be Created in Your Stomach
Hydrochloric acid, the same substance used to clean bricks can be created in your stomach! This is another one of the interesting facts about the digestive system. Thankfully, our stomach has a think layer of mucus to protect us from the acid and the enzyme pepsin produced. The stomach mixing motion creates a liquid called chyme which is then released into the small intestine. The entire process takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete.
4. The Drinks You Have Affect the Texture and Look of the Stool
Another one of the interesting facts about the digestive system is that the amount of water in your body affects the look and texture of your stool. When you drink adequate amounts of water your stool becomes soft. It also means that you are having a comfortable bowel movement. On the flip side, if you do not drink enough water, you will have stools that are hard to pass. In short, you need to drink more water.
5. Your Digestive System Has Trillions of Bacteria
Did you know that your digestive system is home to trillions of bacteria? This is one of the cool facts about the digestive system. The digestive system is home to 500 species of bacteria! We are not born with these bacteria. Instead, they develop in our body within 1 month of being born. Many of these bacteria are considered friendly because they assist in fighting diseases. The sale of probiotics is increasing because we have recognised their importance.
6. The Digestive System is Your Second Brain
Another one of the interesting facts about the digestive system is that it is your second brain. For example, if you think of something that creates anxiety your stomach flips. Stress can even result in diarrhoea. This collaboration is considered essential for our survival. The reason? We need to be aware of the threat. Our body has a flight or fight system to divert the resources from the digestive system and focus our energy to fight or run away from threats.
7. It is Possible to Live Without a Stomach!
Yes. You heard that right! You can live without a stomach. This is one of the interesting facts about the digestive system. Those with certain types of stomach cancer may need to remove their entire stomach. Gastrectomy is the procedure in which a stomach is removed. Thereafter, the oesophagus is attached directly to the small intestine. Those without stomachs can still eat. However, they can only eat a limited amount of food several times a day.
8. You Can Hold Up to 4 Pounds of Food at One Go
Your stomach has the remarkable ability to stretch. This helps in storing up to 4 pounds of food at one time. However, we would not suggest that you do this as it can make you uncomfortable. Four pounds of food is just the average estimate. Some people’s stomachs can hold even more. For example, Joey Chestnut who holds the world record for eating the most hot dogs can eat 16 pounds of hot dogs.
9. Only Farts that Have Hydrogen Sulfide Smell Bad
Another one of the facts about the digestive system is that all farts do not smell bad. The majority of the farts do not have any odour. Just about 1% of the farts have a bad smell. This is because these farts consist of hydrogen sulfide. Other gases that can create a bad smell are nitrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide.
10. Your Digestive System is Similar to a Laundry Detergent
Remember what we discussed in the beginning? Your digestive system is similar to a laundry detergent, This is one of the most interesting facts about the digestive system. The digestive system consists of enzymes like protease, lipase, amylase, etc. These enzymes are responsible for breaking down carbohydrates, proteins and fat. This happens in the small intestine.
These are the same enzymes that are used in laundry detergent. When the stains of our clothing consist of starch, protein, and fat the enzymes in the detergent break down these components, and we get a clean cloth.
Also Read:
- 10+ Interesting Facts about Lungs in Humans for Kids
- Unknown Food Facts That Will Blow Your Mind
- Interesting Facts about the Heart You Should Know
FAQs about Digestive System
Your digestive system has its nervous system, and your emotions can affect the system. Moreover, your small intestine is longer than your large intestine. You can produce at least 32 Ounces Of Saliva in a day. There are a total of 8 organs in your digestive system.
The digestive system activities include ingestion, propulsion, digestion (chemical and mechanical breakdown), absorption, secretion, and excretion. Your food is chewed and swallowed, and the muscular contractions make it go through the alimentary canal, and break down food into smaller particles.
70% of your immune system is in your gut. This is because your gut constantly deals with food (of the outside world). Food can contain dangerous microbes and is always in contact with this part of your body.
The digestive tract is the organ responsible for the absorption of water. The main function is done by the large intestine. However, the small intestine also does its part in water absorption.
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This was all about the facts about law of physics. If you find it fascinating and wish to read more such interesting facts, then stay tuned to the General Knowledge page of Leverage Edu!
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