How Digestion Works—and What Happens When It Doesn’t

Digestion is a finely tuned sequence. It begins in the stomach, where strong acid and enzymes break down proteins and signal the intestines to prepare. In the small intestine, bile and pancreatic enzymes complete the job so nutrients can be absorbed effectively.

When any part of this process falters, digestion stalls. Food lingers too long, breaks down incompletely, and ferments—feeding harmful microbes and triggering bloating, gas, reflux, and inflammation. These symptoms aren’t random; they’re signs that digestion is not functioning as designed.