The digestive system, which consists of organs such as the stomach, intestines, and liver, is responsible for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.
Functioning properly, the digestive system helps people gain energy so that they can grow properly, heal from wounds, and have enough stamina to perform physically or mentally taxing tasks. When malnourished, however, the body’s lowered basal metabolic rate (BMR) causes the digestive system to function differently to conserve energy.
For example, digestion in the stomach slows down, causing a condition known as gastroparesis.
When afflicted with gastroparesis, stomach muscles don’t move food through organs as quickly as they should.
Slowed gastric movement can cause food to stay in the stomach for too long.
When food stays in the stomach for too long, it may cause acid reflux, as well as nausea and bloating.
In turn, this process slows down digestion in the large intestines.
Slowed digestion can cause constipation.
Constipation may result in aches and pains.
We noticed digestion issues long before other body malfunctions became evident. After bringing the problem to my daughter’s doctor, tests were conducted to examine the health of relevant organs, which were deemed healthy at that time. Nonetheless, we now realize that she was experiencing gastroparesis for several months as a result of her decreased consumption of nutrients.
The liver is also often impacted by reduced caloric intake. When functioning properly, the liver stores any extra energy gained from food as glycogen, which is a type of sugar that the body reserves for when it needs energy.
The amount of glycogen continually rises as a result of regular meals and falls as a consequence of daily energy expenditures.
However, when the liver receives fewer calories but the body expends the same amount of energy, the glycogen levels fall and the stores are depleted.
With no stored glycogen to rely on for nutrients, the liver generates glucose from non-carbohydrate sources including amino acids released from muscle breakdown.
Additionally, to further conserve energy when malnourished, the liver produces fewer proteins.
The production of fewer proteins in the liver causes itwhich causes it to become less efficient at removing toxins from the body and aiding blood clotting in response to injuries.
As a result, poorly nourished people may become sick often or take a long time to recover from minor injuries.
"We noticed digestion issues long before other body malfunctions became evident. After bringing the problem to my daughter’s doctor, tests were conducted to examine the health of relevant organs, which were deemed healthy at that time. Nonetheless, we now realize that she was experiencing gastroparesis for several months as a result of her decreased consumption of nutrients."
