How We Digest

Digestive System 101

Digestion begins long before the first bite. It starts in the mind - in the quiet hum of anticipation, in the way scent curls around memory, in the way hunger signals not just an emptiness but a readiness. The body, ever-intelligent, responds before we’ve lifted a fork. Saliva gathers, rich with enzymes that will soon unravel starches. The stomach whispers its cue, releasing acids in preparation. This is not just eating; this is symphony.

By looking at this photo of a perfectly ripe pummelo grapefruit, this process may have just begun.

When food meets the tongue, digestion is already deep in conversation. Taste buds translate flavors into stories: sweet, bitter, salt, umami. Chewing is not merely a step—it is a ritual, a moment of communion between body and nourishment. Each bite is an act of kindness, breaking food down into something more absorbable, something usable.

In the stomach, the alchemy continues. Acids dissolve proteins, and enzymes unravel complexity. The small intestine, wise and meticulous, absorbs what serves us, sending nutrients into the bloodstream like a messenger of sustenance. The gut microbiome—our inner world of bacteria, fungi, and archaea—transforms fiber into short-chain fatty acids, feeding our cells, our brains, our moods.

And then, the final release. What we do not need is carried away, a quiet reminder that digestion is not just about taking in but also about letting go.

Eating is not simply consumption. It is transformation, a conversation between the seen and unseen, between what is external and what becomes us. It is proof that we are in constant renewal, built and rebuilt by the food we choose, the care we take, and the way we listen to our bodies.

So the next time you eat, notice. Notice how your body knows before you do. Notice how digestion is an offering, an act of reciprocity. Notice how, with every meal, you are becoming.