Friday 27 April 2012

" Eat food in Calm & cozy Atmosphere!!"- There is hidden logic behind this Adage..!!


“WE MUST EAT FOOD IN CALM & COZY ATMOSPHERE… AWAY FROM WORRIES & ANXIETY…Why??”
Before explaining the reason for the above Question.. Lets first have a look at the Digestive process taking place in our body. This will help in resolving the above query with Scientific reasoning & Logic.
The secretion of gastric juices plays a vital role during digestion.
Most mastication and little digestion of food in mouth, by the action of salivary amylase (a digestive enzyme present in saliva) the semi digested & semisolid food enters esophagus. Passing down the esophagus the food enters through the cardiac sphincter (a valve like opening present at the junction of esophagus & fundus of stomach) into the most dilatable portion of alimentary canal known as STOMACH
It is present in epigastric region partly on left of Hypochondriac & Umbical region 
Stomach is the organ present in abdominal cavity which acts as a churner and a temporary storage organ.
The inner lining of stomach is a mucous coat; which is soft and like corrugated folds. The corrugation disappears when stomach is distended with food.
The inner most coat of stomach has mucous membrane. This contains columnar cells that secrete mucous.
The surface of inner membrane is covered with tiny ducts from many gastric glands.
The gastric glands include-
  • Cardiac glands which lie near the cardiac sphincter. These secrete mucous.
  • Tubular glands /gland of fundus- these produce pepsin ( a proteolytic enzyme)
Functions of stomach
  • Stomach acts as temporary storage organ.
  • It contains 0.4% of HCl which acidifies food
  • Acidic atmosphere in stomach renders food safe, i.e. free of microbial infections.
  • Also acidic atmosphere is required for conversion of Pepsinogen(precursor of Pepsin-a proteolytic enzyme) to pepsin which acts on Proteins & breakdown them into peptones(more soluble form)
  • Food is churned by peristaltic waves & mixed with HCl & gastric juice and is prepared for intestinal digestion.
  • Rennin present in digestive juice of stomach curdles milk.
  • Fats are emulsified by  action of HCl.
  • An anti anemic factor is formed by ferment present in Gastric juice. This factor s necessary for absorption of Vit B-12(Cyanocobalmin) which is needed in Heam part of Hemoglobin. Absence of this factor can be responsible for occurrence of Pernicious Anemia.
  • Formation of Chyme takes place by the action Gastric secretions & HCl on partially digested food inside the stomach turning it into simpler components. Chyme is easily digested & absorbed in intestines. 
 Now, we come back to the main point of discussion:
WHY-WE MUST EAT FOOD IN CALM & COZY ATMOSPHERE… AWAY FROM
WORRIES & ANXIETY…??
“Bhojan aur bhajan Ekaant aur shantimay sthaan par karna chahiye..”
Secretion of gastric juice is quite important in DIGESTION PROCESS.
The process is both – nervous stimulated & a chemical process.
Mere sight or smell of well prepared food triggers the gastric secretion.
This period remains for about 20-30 minutes. At this time absorption of nutrients is at its peak. This is what can be known as period of craving for food.

Chemicals,too stimulate secretion.
Some chemicals present in food, interact with the walls of stomach and liberate an HORMONE called GASTRIN.
Gastrin is responsible for the
feedback mechanism of  
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM(SNS) & CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS)
                             Gastrin plays a Vital role in feedback for release of more of Gastric juices into alimentary canal.
When emotions are at peak (especially anger, fear or distress) the Sympathetic nervous system is affected. Mainly secretion of Adrenalin is responsible for imbalance in feedback mechanism. Generally lowering of Gastrin secretion occurs.
This may result in-
  • Rejection of food by stomach.
  • Partial digestion & partial absorption of nutrients.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Feeling of butterflies in stomach due to contraction of stomach walls.
  • Unusual dilation of cardiac sphincter.. This can result in regurgitation of food & HEARTBURN.
  • An imbalance in release of gastric juice –Hypo-secretion can result in indigestion.
  • Hyper-secretion of Gastric juice may result in Gorging of food due to more feeling of hunger.
  • Hyper-secretion may also lead to acidity due to mental stress/ tension.
We can conclude, that the mood during Food intake is important factor to ensure proper digestion & absorption of Nutrients.
Even, the speed of eating food will affect the amount of Food intake. One can eat more food, if he eats quickly, during 20-30 minutes(ie. during-Period of craving for food) when the secretion of Gastrin & other Digestive juices is at the PEAK.
Finally, one more reason to say -"our preceding generations had a scientific outlook towards life!!"May be they never explained all the reasons. But they were aware of the facts & affects of Mood on food intake & absorption—
So, there is an era old adage  “Bhojan ekant mein, shant-mann se karna chahiye” 
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Related Facts:-

Our Digestive System
    Digestive System
Abdominal cavity
  • It’s the largest cavity.
  • Oval in shape.
  • Extends from diaphragm to pelvis.
  • AC is divided into 2 parts        
-Abdomen proper( upper larger cavity)
-  Pelvis( lower & smaller cavity)
Position
Abdominal cavity lie above the diaphragm.
Below the brim of pelvis
Front has abdominal muscles
Sides are covered by iliac bones & lower ribs
Backside has vertebral column & Quadratus-Lumborum muscles.
Abdomen has
  • Stomach
  • Small intestine (major part of alimentary canal)
  • Liver is present on right upper part below the diaphragm
  • Gallbladder lies below the liver
  • Pancreas is behind the stomach & spleen lie at tail of pancreas.
  • Kidney & adrenal glands are present on posterior abdominal wall.
  • Ureters pass through abdominal cavity starting from Kidneys.

    Abdominal cavity