What Does The Pancreas Do In The Digestive System?
The pancreas certainly warrants attention as far as diabetics are concerned, due to the connection that it has with the disease. But how many people really know what purpose the pancreas serves in relation to the digestive system?
There are two main functions of the pancreas. First, it is the organ that is responsible for producing and releasing the body's supply of insulin. Second, it produces powerful enzymes whose job is to break down foods such as carbs, proteins, and fats. It is also the second organ, after the stomach, that secretes a substance that helps to neutralize stomach acid.
The pancreas actually serves in two capacities: in the endocrine system and in the digestive system. In the endocrine system, it is responsible for producing four specific hormones that are used in various functions throughout the body.
In the digestive system it works by releasing liquids directly into the small intestine. They enter through the pancreatic duct which connects to the duodenum.
Once food reaches the duodenum, the pancreas receives signals that it is time to secrete enzymes. The three specific items that they go after, carbs, protein and fat, are crushed into trace elements that are then processed by the body.
Among these enzymes are lipase, carboxypeptidase, amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin. Each enzyme has it's own targeted substance that it goes after. Carbs are attacked by amylase, protein is broken down by chymotrypsin and trypsin, and fat is left to the mercy of lipase.
Photo: Pexels
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...