Your digestive system is an intricate network of organs working together to break down the food you eat, absorb nutrients and remove undigested material from the body. From the first bite of a meal to the final stages of digestion, this system plays an essential role in everyday life.

Digestion begins in the mouth, where chewing and saliva start breaking down food. It continues through the stomach and intestines, where digestive juices and enzymes help break food into smaller components. Nutrients are then absorbed and transported around the body for use in its normal processes.

Your digestive system also works closely with other body systems, including the circulatory and nervous systems. These connections demonstrate how digestion forms part of the body's wider network of functions.

Everyday choices, such as eating a varied and balanced diet, taking time over meals, staying hydrated and enjoying regular physical activity, can all contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

In this guide, we'll explore how the digestive system works, why it matters and five practical lifestyle habits worth considering. You'll also find further reading from our Health Hub and information about Enzymes+, our featured Key System Product for the Digestive System.

A person in a green apron slices a cucumber on a wooden cutting board in a bright, sunlit kitchen. Fresh tomatoes, carrots, herbs, and bowls of ingredients are arranged around the workspace.

Understanding Your Digestive System

The digestive system is a complex network of organs responsible for breaking down the food we eat, absorbing nutrients and removing undigested material from the body. It includes the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine, alongside other organs involved in digestion, including the liver, pancreas and gallbladder.

Together, these organs carry out a series of coordinated processes that turn food into smaller components the body can absorb and use. Digestive enzymes, stomach acid and bile each have different roles, while the muscles of the digestive tract help move food through the system.

Although digestion happens largely without us noticing, it is an essential part of everyday life. From enjoying breakfast to sharing an evening meal, your digestive system is continually working to process the foods and drinks you consume.

A smiling older couple sits at a wooden dining table in a bright kitchen, eating salads with forks. Bowls of salad, bread, glasses of water, and small jars are arranged on the table, with potted plants and shelves visible in the softly lit background.

How Does Your Digestive System Work?

Your digestive system works through a series of coordinated stages, beginning when you take your first bite of food and continuing as it travels through your digestive tract. Each organ has a specific role in breaking down food, absorbing nutrients and processing the material that remains.

Digestion begins in the mouth, where chewing breaks food into smaller pieces and saliva starts breaking down starches. Food then travels through the oesophagus to the stomach, where muscular movements, stomach acid and digestive enzymes help break it down further.

From the stomach, partially digested food enters the small intestine. Here, enzymes produced by the pancreas and bile produced by the liver help with the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Most nutrient absorption takes place in the small intestine, where nutrients pass into the blood or lymphatic system.

The remaining material moves into the large intestine, where water and electrolytes are absorbed and naturally occurring gut bacteria act on some undigested substances. Waste is then stored in the rectum before being eliminated from the body.

This remarkable process happens throughout the day, allowing your body to obtain and use nutrients from the foods you eat as part of its normal everyday functions.

A woman walking outdoors in a sunny garden setting, wearing a light olive green button-up shirt over a white tank top and beige drawstring sweatpants, while carrying a woven straw tote bag and holding a muted green water bottle.

Why Your Digestive System Matters

Your digestive system plays an essential role in everyday life, providing the means for your body to obtain nutrients from the foods you eat. These nutrients are used throughout the body for a wide range of normal functions, from maintaining tissues to supporting everyday activities.

Digestion also connects closely with other body systems. Nutrients absorbed through the small intestine enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, while the nervous system helps coordinate the movements and processes involved in digestion. This illustrates how the body's different systems work together.

The digestive tract is also home to trillions of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiota. These microorganisms interact with undigested food components, particularly dietary fibre, and form part of the complex environment within the intestines.

Understanding the importance of digestion can encourage a more mindful approach to everyday habits. Eating a varied and balanced diet, enjoying meals at a comfortable pace, staying hydrated and being physically active are all practical considerations for a healthy lifestyle.

5 Everyday Habits for Digestive Wellbeing

From fibre-rich foods and regular hydration to fermented foods and mindful eating, explore five everyday habits that can become part of a balanced lifestyle.

  • A large ceramic bowl filled with a colorful green salad, placed on a wooden table with sliced whole wheat bread, fresh carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, nuts, and a glass jar of oats in the background.

    Eat More Fibre

    Include a variety of fibre-rich foods such as vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, beans, lentils and nuts. Adults in the UK are advised to aim for around 30g of fibre daily.

  • A clear glass of sparkling water with lemon slices, cucumber rounds, and mint leaves sits on a wooden table outdoors, with a matching pitcher and lemons in the background.

    Stay Hydrated

    Drink fluids regularly throughout the day, adjusting your intake for activity levels and warmer weather. Water, other drinks and water-rich foods all contribute to fluid intake.

  • A styled food scene on a wooden table with bowls of prepared foods and jars of pickled vegetables. Visible items include a bowl of yogurt topped with berries, a bowl of purple cabbage slaw, a jar of shredded pickled vegetables, a jar of kimchi, a small bowl of brown spread, and surrounding ingredients such as bananas, onions, garlic, asparagus, and a glass of milk.

    Explore Fermented Foods

    Enjoy variety in your diet with foods such as live yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi. You can also include fibre-rich foods such as onions, bananas and wholegrains.

  • A woman with wavy brown hair wearing a green knit sweater sits at a wooden table, holding a spoonful of salad above a large bowl of colorful vegetables and grains. A glass of lemonade with mint and lime sits on the left, and the background shows a bright, sunlit kitchen with plants.

    Eat Mindfully

    Take time to enjoy your meals, chew food thoroughly and pay attention to your body's natural hunger and fullness cues. Eating at a comfortable pace and reducing distractions can help you develop more mindful eating habits.

  • A woman relaxes on a wooden outdoor patio, wrapped in a cozy textured knit blanket and holding a ceramic mug. She wears a matching beige knit cardigan.

    Make Time To Unwind

    Build relaxation into your day through activities such as mindfulness, gentle stretching or spending time outdoors. Consistent sleep habits can also contribute to everyday wellbeing.

1 5
Lily & Loaf Enzymes+ vegan supplement bottle, front view, digestive enzyme formula in white container on a clean background.

Meet Enzymes+, Your Key System Product

Alongside the everyday lifestyle habits we've explored, you may also wish to learn more about Enzymes+, our featured Key System Product for the Digestive System.

Enzymes+ brings together a blend of plant-based and fungal-derived enzymes, including amylase, alpha-galactosidase, cellulase, invertase, papain, lipase and lactase.

Designed to complement a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, Enzymes+ offers a convenient way to incorporate this combination of enzymes into your daily nutritional routine. You can explore the full formula, ingredient information and directions for use on the product page.

OUR ASSURANCE TO YOU

We want you to feel confident when shopping with Lily & Loaf. That's why eligible purchases are covered by our 90-day money-back guarantee, giving you added peace of mind when trying something new.

Discover Enzymes+

 Continue Exploring Your Wellbeing 

  • An open book titled 'Digestive Health' lies on a wooden table, surrounded by a cozy breakfast scene with a mug of tea, a bowl of fruit and vegetables, books, and plants in a bright, natural setting.

    Digestive Health Hub

    Explore our Digestive Health Hub for informative articles, practical nutrition advice and everyday lifestyle tips.

    Explore Articles 
  • A person uses a laptop on a wooden desk, showing a digital 'Lily & Loaf Your Lifestyle Analysis' screen. The scene is styled with a mug of coffee, a notebook with a pen, and potted plants in the background.

    Your Questions Explained

    Understand the questions behind your Lifestyle Analysis and what they explain.

    View Explanations 
  • A circular lifestyle mockup showing printed wellness guides titled 'LILY & LOAF Your Lifestyle Analysis Results' and 'Next Steps Tips,' arranged on a table top with a notebook, pen, fruit bowl, and cup of tea in a garden setting.

    Explore All Nine Body Systems 

    Discover the other Key Body Systems and learn more about everyday wellbeing.

    Explore Body Systems 
1 3

Digestive System