Let s be real: Most of us don t appreciate the work our digestive system does for us. For the most part, once food leaves our mouths it also leaves our minds that is, until we eventually see the remnants again in one way or another.
But what happens to food
after you swallow it? The digestive system as a whole is made up of many complex, crucial moving parts. Here s what you need to know about what happens during digestion, and how long it usually takes to digest your food. What happens during digestion?
Obviously, the first step to digesting food is putting it in your mouth and chewing it but your teeth don t do all of the work here. During this process, your salivary glands also moisten your food, making it easier for whatever you re eating to pass through your esophagus when you swallow, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).