On the left side of your body, your stomach is located in the top part of your abdomen. The stomach does more than just digest food; it protects your whole body. As we eat, the acid in our stomach helps cleanse food from bacteria and toxins and makes it safer for us to consume.The stomach is bean-shaped and resembles a sack. Some people’s stomachs may appear larger than others, but all stomachs are approximately the same size: 6 in (15.24 cm) wide 12 in (30.48 cm) long. The small intestine connects to the bottom of the stomach.Functions Of A StomachThe stomach, large intestines, small intestine, gallbladder, pancreas, and liver organs are part of the digestive system. The stomach digests food that is received from the esophagus, and partly digested food from the stomach is moved to the small intestine.In the stomach, there are four main functions: motility, digestion, secretion, and absorption.The human stomach stores and breaks down food. Stomachs churn and produce gastric juice and digest food. The food we eat in our stomachs gets decomposed and is called chyme.The acid produced by the stomach lining can be called gastric juice, stomach acid, or gastric acid. The acidic stomach plays a crucial role in the digestion of proteins by activating digestive enzymes that break down amino acids in long chains.Stomach DiseasesSeveral conditions affect your stomach, like Gastric ulcers, peptic ulcer disease, stomach cancer, gastritis, gastroenteritis, stomach ulcers, stomach flu, and acid reflux.Gastritis: This condition may be caused by stress, chronic vomiting, excessive alcohol use, or other anti-inflammatory medications or infections.The most common gastritis symptoms are vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea or upset stomach, vomiting blood, indigestion, and abdominal pain.Stomach cancer: The growth of cells in the stomach leads to stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer. Most of the time, stomach cancers develop slowly over many years.In the early stages, pre-cancerous changes often develop in the mucosa lining of the stomach, causing no symptoms. As a result, these early changes are often not detected.Cancer of the stomach may not have the same symptoms as cancers of the liver, colon or rectum (large intestine), small intestine, or pancreas. These cancers have different outlooks and treatments as well.How To Keep Your Stomach HealthyLike any part of the body, we need to take care of our stomach. The stomach is a storehouse of good bacteria that not only aid in digestion but also help to build a strong immune system.For a healthy stomach and healthy human body, drink lots of water. The reason you need to stay hydrated is that fiber helps create bulkier and softer stools, which flow more easily through your colon.It would be best if you minimize the intake of foods that are high in fat. Constipation is often associated with foods high in fat, which slow down the digestive process.Eat regularly and keep a regular schedule. Nutrition experts and dieticians recommend consuming your daily meals at the same time each day to ensure proper digestion of your food.You should keep moving or exercise to avoid digestive problems. During exercise, blood flow increases, and metabolism is boosted, which aids digestion.Consume probiotics. They are good bacteria that live in your stomach and you can consume them in yogurt, fermented foods, or as supplements every day.Amazing Facts About StomachSome believe that if you eat less, your stomach will shrink, which will cause your appetite to decrease and hence help in weight loss. But we are sorry to say it’s just a myth and our stomach does not shrink. Read on to learn many more interesting facts about the human stomach.You can burn your skin with the acid in your stomach.A person’s weight or health does not affect the size of their stomach. Both obese people and thin people have the same size stomach.Ulcers can be caused by certain drugs and bacteria.A high sugar content food digests very quickly, but food high in fat or protein content will digest more slowly.As we burp, we release air molecules we have eaten through food.Every two weeks, a new mucous level is produced in the stomach and it safeguards the stomach epithelial cells or lining and other organs against being digested by hydrochloric acid.Protein-rich and fatty foods take longer to digest than high-fiber foods, so it does not take more than five to seven hours for the digestive system to digest a normal meal.Your stomach’s average capacity is nearly half a pound of food at any time, even when it is resting. At rest, it holds about 7 oz (207.015 ml) of stomach acid and bile.Your stomach works like a mixer; it mashes and churns together all the food in small pieces.In your digestive system, enzymes or gastric juices break up food so that your body can obtain the nutrients it requires.The small intestine is approximately 22-23 ft (6.7-7 m) long, whereas the large intestine is 5 ft (1.5 m) long.68 years is the longest period of continuous hiccups.Food is digested to produce nutrients and energy. Digestion is especially important for energy, nutrition, and cell repair.Absorption and digestion of ingested nutrients, and excretion of waste products, are the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.The stomach is divided into four main parts: the fundus, cardia, pylorus, and body.Gastric reflux disease can be provoked by carbonated drinks due to their properties, such as high acidity.Gastroparesis occurs when your stomach doesn’t digest food fast enough, so food stays in your stomach much longer than it should.
On the left side of your body, your stomach is located in the top part of your abdomen.
