Have you ever wondered what happens to your food after eating your favorite meal? Your body breaks down that food and uses it to give you energy. This process is called digestion. Let's take a closer look at this process starting with eating your food. Digestion starts at just the mouth as you break down your food by chewing. This is referred to as mechanical breakdown. Also while chewing your food your mouth adds saliva which contains amylase. Amylase is an enzyme (a protein that causes a chemical reaction to speed up digestion that helps to break down the carbs in the food, which is a fast acting source of energy.   

    After you have chewed your food well enough you swallow. Now whatever you ate travels to your throat, then down the esophagus, which is a long tube leading to the stomach. The esophagus is in charge of transporting food from your mouth and into your stomach. In your stomach acid is mixed with your food to help further break it down. This is where the chemical breakdown occurs. People with Gastrointestinal Reflex disease (GERD) have issues with stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus which can cause chest pain, heartburn, trouble sleeping, and even a hard time swallowing. Thankfully these people can be treated with medicine to lower the amount of acid produced.