Tag: Oral phase

In a healthy human, food travels from the mouth to the stomach within an average of three seconds after swallowing. This rapid transport is the culmination of ingestion, which is the formal term for what is the process of taking in food called, marking the vital first step in the entire digestive journey.

Chewing is a crucial first step in the digestive process, and research shows that a significant portion of the adult population does not chew their food adequately. This mechanically and chemically processed lump of food, ready for swallowing, has a specific scientific name: the bolus.

During a single meal, humans can generate hundreds of boluses depending on the food's texture and composition. Understanding what is a bolus when eating? is key to appreciating the complex oral phase of digestion, which begins the process of extracting nutrients from food. This seemingly simple oral process is a sophisticated coordination of mechanical and chemical actions, with profound implications for overall digestive health.