Most of you know a little bit about the digestive system and gut health, but there is still a lot to learn. Know other interesting digestive system facts that range from the informative to the funny.
What is the digestive system?
The digestive system is responsible for extracting nutrients from the food and drink you consume. These nutrients are further broken down into even smaller units so that the body can absorb them, and convert them into energy for cell growth, repair, and production of antibodies.
Here are other interesting digestive system facts.
1. Your intestines can stretch up to 25 feet long
In the human digestive system, the small intestine can stretch up to 6 meters or 20 feet long, and the large intestine is about 1.5 meters or 5 feet long. The length of the large intestine is almost as tall as the average Filipino, around 5 feet and 1.57 inches.
2. Stomach acid is so strong it can dissolve your skin
The stomach acid is made up of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and hydrochloric acid. When measured in pH level, the stomach acid ranges from 1.5 to 3.5.
But why doesn’t the acid burn your stomach? This is because the stomach is protected by a layer of sticky gel-like mucus called the gastric mucus. This mucus keeps the stomach acid and enzymes intact.