Does food processing in your digestive system become slower as you become older?

Definitely as the metabolism is going down as the ages are edging up. That is why grandparents are couldn't tolerate the heavy meals as they had in their young age. 

Digestion works by moving food through the GI tract. Digestion begins in the mouth with chewing and ends in the small intestine. As food passes through the GI tract, it mixes with digestive juices, causing large molecules of food to break down into smaller molecules. The body then absorbs these smaller molecules through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream, which delivers them to the rest of the body. Waste products of digestion pass through the large intestine and out of the body as a solid matter called stool.

Table 1 shows the parts of the digestive process performed by each digestive organ, including movement of food, type of digestive juice used, and food particles broken down by that organ.

Table 1. The digestive process

OrganMovementDigestive Juices UsedFood ParticlesBroken DownMouth Chewing Saliva Starches Esophagus Swallowing None None Stomach Upper muscle in stomach relaxes to let food enter and lower muscle mixes food with digestive juice Stomach acid Protein Small intestine Peristalsis Small intestinedigestive juice Starches, protein, andcarbohydrates Pancreas None Pancreatic juice Starches, fats, andprotein Liver None Bile acids Fats

If you look the above table you will see that peristalsis movement play a great role in movement of the food. As the person grow older this peristalsis movement get slow due to less muscular activity in normal persons with normal household activities. However sports persons or person doing more physical work have somewhat better situation. Furthermore digestive secretions also have a great affect on the digestion process. 

Actually , I haven't any idea about this topic . But I ll write my point of view not . SCIENTIFIC words. As any system in the human body gets slower with aging the deigestive system does too

Feeding the elderly: Food slows

The aging process:

 

Who would not want to find the fountain of youth? But, in order to discover the secret of longevity we do not need to go far in the search. Here are some secrets of feeding the elderly for long life.

 

To feed the elderly and a healthy diet and maintain our body weight is the key to healthy and long life.

Necessary to follow a healthy diet helps reduce the risk of many diseases. It is important to maintain health with age because the metabolism starts to slow. Many foods can help us healthy nutrition and slow the aging process, thus;

 

Antioxidants - eat foods rich in antioxidants help to live a long life are important in feeding the elderly because it helps in the fight against free radicals. Oxygen free radicals are unstable molecules roam freely in our bodies and can cause cancer, heart disease and contribute, in addition to this, in the aging process in the body. Antioxidants can supply them, usually, of fruits and vegetables so it is very important to introduce this in our daily diet.

 

Beans - try eating beans3-4 times a week. Beans can help lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, prevent constipation and help digestion. Eat beans causing a feeling of fullness quickly and is also rich in dietary fiber, which can help to significantly reduce the weight.

 

Olive oil - have a positive impact on memory and feed the elderly, has also has an effect similar to the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Ibuprofen). Olive oil helps to remove fat that accumulates on the walls of blood vessels and the prevention of disease atherosclerosis. Olive oil is also a good friend of good cholesterol (HDL) and helps to maintain high values ​​of it in the body.

 

Fish - fish also called "brain food", because fish oil (fatty acids), which hate them strongly in our childhood, has great significance for the functions of the brain and nervous system. Studies that lack of Omega3 fatty acids have shown can cause certain illnesses, such as depression, Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. Lack of omega-3 in the bodies of children can be reflected in behavioral disorders, violence and hyperactivity.

 

Cranberry - not only that the cranberry is an excellent source of antioxidants, but it can also help in the fight against certain diseases, such as cancer and degenerative diseases of the brain.

 

Vegetables - we mentioned earlier the importance of vegetables in the fight against free radicals, but in addition they are also an important role in prolonging life. Vegetables contain dietary fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals that help protect us from chronic diseases. Green vegetables contain vitamin K, which helps to strengthen bones.

 

 Sweet potatoes and carrots contain vitamin A, is very useful for the health of the eyes and skin and also helps protect the body from infections.

 

Whole grain - Whole grains are very important in the course of feeding the elderly, it may help reduce the risk of certain cancers and reduce the risk of type2 diabetes and heart disease. It recommended eating bread, pasta and rice from whole grains instead of white wheat. It also recommended to add oatmeal to a meal of meat. Whole grains are subject to fewer processing stages, so the nutritional value is very high.

 

Nuts - Nuts are very helpful to the health of the body, they are full of fat, carbohydrates, proteins and other nutrients. Almonds are rich in vitamin E, which can help reduce the risk of stroke in women. Nuts contain antioxidants and helps to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL). We just have to keep in mind that nuts are rich in fat, so it must be taken moderately.

 

Milk - dairy products are important in feeding the elderly It is rich in vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium so much. This vitamin is especially important for those at risk of developing osteoporosis and for those who suffer from osteoporosis. Also, vitamin D can reduce the risk of colon cancer, breast cancer and prostate. Try eating yogurt rich in probiotics bacteria that help a lot in the process of digestion.

 

Greece - Yes Yes, your vision and sound on

Okay, we simply want to recommend that you

 

That ye may eat like the Greeks. They did not invent the Olympic Games and mathematics, only that, but the Greeks also invented the "Mediterranean diet", which is very beneficial to the health of our body and feed the elderly and can help prolong longevity. But there is no need to travel to Greece, this diet is not sold - can be done at home as well. It consists of olive oil, vegetables, whole grains, and instead of salt added to food spices and aromatic herbs.

 

 

How Aging Affects Your Digestive Health

Lifestyle changes, along with getting older, can affect your digestive tract, and increase your risk of developing a digestive disorder.

 

 

Aging puts the body at higher risk for an assortment of health ailments and conditions.

 

With age, many bodily functions slow down, including your digestive tract — it just might not work as efficiently or as quickly as it used to. The muscles in the digestive tract become stiffer, weaker, and less efficient. Your tissues are also more likely to become damaged because new cells aren't forming as quickly as they once did.

 

As a result, digestive tract problems that can occur as people age include:

 

Heartburn

Peptic ulcers

Diarrhea

Constipation

Hemorrhoids

Gas

Stomach pain

Irritable bowel syndrome

Diverticulitis

Fecal incontinence 

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

It’s important that you to seek help for any digestive discomforts and not simply brush them off as part of aging. 

 

Seniors may also have unusual symptoms of more serious digestive disorders that can easily be missed. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) tends to be more serious in seniors, but older adults may show less common reflux symptoms, such as coughing or wheezing, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

 

 

Aging and Digestion: Medical Conditions

 

The main reason that aging affects the digestive tract is that aging usually brings on other health conditions — and medication to deal with those conditions.

 

Diabetes and gastroparesis. "As people age, they get diabetes, and that can cause a lot of [movement] problems in the bowel," says Francisco J. Marrero, MD, a gastroenterologist with the Digestive Health Center at Lake Charles Memorial Health System in Louisiana. "They also get gastroparesis — that's probably the most significant effect of aging on the bowels." Gastroparesis is a disorder in which food takes a long time to clear the stomach, resulting in many unpleasant symptoms. Gastroparesis tends to be more common in women, notes the American College of Gastroenterology, and causes frequent bloating and nausea.

Artery blockages. Dr. Marrero says blockages in older people are also very common. Blockages in arteries can affect blood flow to the bowels, a condition called intestinal ischemia, during which blood flow to the intestines decreases in a fashion similar to what happens with a heart attack. "More systemic problems that are more common with age are really the reason for digestive tract issues,” he explains.

Arthritis and hypertension. Many older people also take a variety of medications to manage chronic conditions like arthritis and high blood pressure, and the drugs used to treat both of those conditions can have digestive tract side effects.

"Older people tend to have more joint problems with arthritis and therefore may need medication to treat that," Marrero says. "They are at increased risk of peptic ulcer disease when they take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], a fact often overlooked in people that are prescribed those medications."

 

People taking over-the-counter NSAIDs for everyday aches and pains are also at risk of developing ulcers and other digestive tract problems. "They should always be on something to protect their stomachs," Marrero recommends. Senior women, in particular, are more susceptible to developing an inflammation of the stomach called gastritis, which can result from frequent use of NSAIDs, according to the American College of Gastroenterology.

 

Aging and Digestion: Think Protection

 

Fortunately, your digestive tract doesn't have to become a victim of age. Like the rest of your body, it can often be protected with a healthy lifestyle. If you want to keep your digestive tract in good shape and keep uncomfortable symptoms at bay, try these tips that can make digestion a little easier:

 

 

Stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water.

Limit fats in your diet and maintain a healthy body weight.

Load your diet with fiber.

Stick to healthy portion sizes and avoid overeating.

Get regular exercise.

Healthy living will not only keep your digestive tract healthy but also reduce your need for some of those side-effect-causing medications. You'll feel young, happy, and healthy — both inside and out.

 

 

It depends on your general health and habit more than your age as i think

yes. your metabolism does slow down as you get older.