Aging is a natural process for all humans, and it comes with many changes in the body. One of the most noticeable changes in aging is how your digestion system functions. Many important factors can influence your digestion system as you age. This article will look at them one-by-one, and describe how they can affect your body’s ability to break down food for nutrients.
Esophagus
Saliva can help you digest your food by breaking it down and lubricating it so that it slides easily through your esophagus. Saliva also contains salivary amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates into simpler sugars. As you age, the amount of saliva in your mouth decreases. This is because the saliva glands don’t produce as much fluid. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, this is even more likely if you smoke or use chewing tobacco.
Pancreas
The pancreas is near your stomach. When you eat, it releases digestive enzymes into your small intestine through a tube called the pancreatic duct. These enzymes help digest food so that the nutrients can be absorbed into your body. As you age, your pancreas may have some trouble producing enzymes that are as effective at breaking down food as they were when you were younger. This is because the cells in your pancreas that produce these enzymes begin to die off.
Decreased Peristalsis
Peristalsis is the name given to the process of your intestinal muscles contracting rhythmically for food to move down from the stomach and into part of the intestines. This contraction also helps prevent constipation. The majority of older people will experience a decrease in peristalsis. This means that food will take a longer time to pass through your intestines and become adequately broken down, which can result in constipation.
Less Blood Flow
As you age, your blood vessels tend to lose tone and elasticity due to decreased blood supply. This can cause problems with digestion because it can make it more difficult for nutrients to move from the digestive tract into the bloodstream. This decrease in blood flow can also cause a reduction of lymphatic circulation, which is a circulatory system that runs parallel to your veins and arteries.
Your lymph nodes pick up bacteria and dead cells from your body, then circulate them throughout the lymphatic system until they exit your body through your lymphatic ducts. If the lymphatic system is unhealthy, you may be more susceptible to infections and illnesses that cause diarrhea and constipation.
Stomach Acid
As you age, your stomach acid can decrease because of reducing the cells that produce it. If this happens, food may not digest so that nutrients are not absorbed into your body as efficiently as they should be. This is especially true of older people who have low vitamin B12 levels.
A decrease in stomach acid can also be due to the decline in testosterone that men experience as they age. Testosterone stimulates cells in your stomach to produce acid, so less of this hormone means that you will have less stomach acid.
Conclusion
Take the necessary steps to maintain your health as you age. As you get older, fewer cells produce enzymes needed for proper digestion. Common things will change when you get older but talk to your doctor if the symptoms are significant. Always take preventative actions to maintain your health.