• Your mouth is where the journey begins. Saliva welcomes your food by drenching it with water, electrolytes, mucus, proteins, and enzymes. This "mouth watering" reaction ensures food is well lubricated so it can travel safely down the esophagus and into the stomach. 
• Your stomach is a j-shaped organ that mixes and churns food into a fluid-like mass of partly digested food called chyme. Your stomach has a unique ability to expand and contract to accommodate varying amounts of food because its inner layer is full of wrinkles called rugae. These gastric folds also help move stomach contents on to the next step of the journey.
• The small intestine is simply incredible. It is the longest section of your digestive tract, has a massive surface area with billions of microvilli, and is responsible for absorbing about 90% of the nutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) that fuel your body! 
• The large intestine hosts the final stage of digestion where water and vitamins are absorbed and food is turned in to feces. This muscular tube is shorter in length than the small intestine but about double the diameter. Muscular contractions, known as peristalsis, move waste along the large intestine before it leaves the body with a glorious splash! 

Your digestive tract is vital to your overall health. It is important to understand and protect it. Sometimes we experience symptoms that are embarrassing and uncomfortable and we need relief. The CDHF has created a series of tips, based on different tummy types, to help you restore your digestive health. Find your tummy type and follow the links below to learn how you can enjoy the best possible digestive health.

• Trouble Tummy
• Sluggish System
• Gassy Gut
• Toilet Trouble
• Tender Tummy
• Bloated Belly