- The digestive system is made up of the digestive tract and other organs that help the body break down and absorb food and nutrients
- The terms stomach and tummy are generally used to mean the same thing
- Gut health refers to the function and balance of bacteria across the entire gastrointestinal or digestive tract
Understanding your child’s digestive system
Key points
You might read lots of articles about your baby’s tummy, stomach, gut, gut flora and gut microbiota, and wonder what it all means. “Are they all the same thing?” you might ask yourself. Let’s break it down and make it easier to understand.
Back to basics: the digestive system explained
Your digestive system breaks down the food you eat into nutrients such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates. These nutrients can then be absorbed into your bloodstream and used as needed for energy, repair and growth. Unused materials are discarded as faeces (or stools).The digestive system is made up of the digestive tract and other organs that help the body break down and absorb food and nutrients.
What is the digestive tract?
Your digestive tract is a long, twisting tube that starts at your mouth, and then involves your oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus. The digestive tract is also referred to as the gastrointestinal tract. You might also hear the term gastrointestinal abbreviated as GI.
The digestive tract, or gastrointestinal tract, also referred to as the gut
What is the difference between stomach and tummy?
The terms stomach and tummy are generally used to mean the same thing. The stomach or tummy is just one piece of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract. The stomach is located between the oesophagus and the small intestine.Food travels from the oesophagus into the stomach. The food is then digested by acids and enzymes which are secreted by the stomach, much like a concrete mixer, churning and mixing food to enhance digestion. Once the food is digested it passes from the stomach to the small intestine.
What are gut flora and gut microbiota?
The terms gut flora and gut microbiota can be used interchangeably. Each refers to the community of microorganisms (e.g bacteria) that lives in the digestive or gastrointestinal tract. Having a diverse gut flora means having lots of different microorganisms.
What does gut mean?
When the term gut is used, it is important to look at the context to decide what it might be referring to. Most accurately, it refers to the entire digestive or gastrointestinal tract. When you hear ‘gut health’, it should be referring to the function and balance of bacteria across the entire gastrointestinal or digestive tract.We’ve tried to help you understand what can be a very complex subject. For more information, or just a one-on-one chat, our Careline is available to help.
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Every feeding journey is unique
Not every parent can produce breast milk. No matter what choice you make, we will support your unique feeding journey.
We at Nutricia believe in providing the best nutrition for babies, which is why we recognise breast milk is uniquely superior for babies as it provides many benefits. It is important that mums have a healthy diet to support breastfeeding. A decision not to breastfeed, or partial bottle feed, may reduce breast milk supply making it difficult to reverse. The cost and social implications of using feeding methods should be considered. Always seek professional advice about feeding your baby. Ensure formula is used as directed as improper use can affect baby’s health.
REMEMBER: The information on this page is general only. If you have any concerns about your baby’s poo or questions about constipation or any other health concerns, please speak to a healthcare professional, like a Pharmacist, GP or Maternal Child Health Nurse.