International Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (ISSN: 2995-2301) | Volume 1, Issue 1 | Editorial Article | Open Access
Agugo UA*
Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Alli University Ekpoma, Nigeria
Fulltext PDFAll metabolic processes take place in the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) or digestive system of every human being and animal. Digestion, absorption and utilization of food nutrients is a natural phenomenon God the creator installed in the body system of every living organism to sustain life. This important phenomenon takes place in the GIT. The whole process usually starts from the oral cavity (chewing to reduce particle size of solid substances), through the oesophagus (passage) to the stomach for chemical degradation of ingested substance, absorption of nutrients takes place in the small intestine, the large intestine forms stool from undigested substances, store stool (waste) in the rectum and pushed out of the body through the anus. These organs performs specific functions to sustain life, disorder in any part affects the functioning of the other and the general well-being of the affected individual. Good nutrition is an aspect of healthy living but without a functioning GIT. For instance, if an individual consumes food regularly and is not able produce and excrete stool normally, it is a sign of poor health condition that requires urgent medical attention. Regular consumption of food substances couple with constant excretion of feces from the human body is a good sign of healthy living. Organs along the GIT, like the biliary organs (liver, pancreas, and gallbladder) perform detoxification function and also assist the GIT in digestive functions to sustain life. The role of the GIT in health maintenance cannot be overemphasized; therefore, there is need for more observational and clinical research in this area, and more urgently, a resident nutritionist and gastroenterologist in Primary Health Care (PHC) centers across the globe to ensure healthy GIT for a sustainable healthy living.
Agugo UA. Good Nutrition and Healthy Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) for Sustainable Healthy Living. Int JourGastro Hepat. 2022;1(2):1-3.