Detective Maya Chen: The case of the troubled tummies
Detective Maya Chen walked into Blue Gum Valley High School's canteen during lunch hour, immediately noticing something was off. The usually bustling room was oddly quiet, with many seats empty and students looking uncomfortable.
"Detective Chen!" Sarah waved her over to a table where she sat with her sister Jamie. "We're so glad you're here. Something weird is happening with the school's new lunch program."
"Half the basketball team has stomach aches," Jamie added, pushing away her half-eaten lunch. "And it's not just us – kids from every grade are having problems."
Maya scanned the canteen area, noting the new "Ultra-Fast Power Lunch" program advertised on posters. Students were gulping down their food while reviewing notes or checking phones, barely chewing before swallowing.
"When did this start?" Maya asked, sitting down.
"About two weeks ago," Sarah explained. "The school introduced these new 'power lunches' to give us more time for study hall. They're supposed to be super-nutritious, but everyone's feeling awful."
Maya picked up a lunch tray, examining the actually quite healthy-looking food. "I think I know what's happening. This is a perfect opportunity to explain how your digestive system works. Shall we solve this mystery?"
Curious students gathered around as Maya pulled out her tablet, displaying a diagram of the digestive system.
"Your digestive system is like an amazing food processing factory that's about 9 metres long! It turns food into energy and nutrients your body can use, but it needs proper time and conditions to work."
She traced the path of food through the diagram. "The journey starts in your mouth, where you have three types of salivary glands producing about 1.5 litres of saliva every day - enough to fill 6 large water bottles!”
“Saliva doesn't just make food wet – it contains enzymes that begin breaking down carbohydrates. When you chew, you're not just making food smaller; you're starting the chemical digestion process."
"But we're supposed to eat quickly to have more study time," one student protested.
"Let's follow what happens when you do that," Maya continued. "Partially chewed food travels down your oesophagus to your stomach. Your stomach is like a muscular mixing bowl, producing strong acids and enzymes – strong enough to dissolve a nail! – to break down proteins. It normally takes 3-4 hours to process a meal properly."
She noticed students shifting uncomfortably. "When you eat too quickly, you swallow more air, and your stomach has to work harder to break down larger pieces of food. Ever wondered why you feel bloated after rushing through a meal? This can cause bloating, acid reflux, and stomach aches – exactly what you've been experiencing!"
"What happens next?" Jamie asked, looking at her rushed lunch with new understanding.
"The partially digested food, now called chyme, moves into your small intestine – which, despite its name, is about 6 metres long. That’s the length of a school bus!”
“It’s a narrow tube where most nutrient absorption happens. Your liver produces bile to help break down fats, and your pancreas adds enzymes to break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates."
Maya drew a closer view of the intestinal wall. "Your small intestine is covered in tiny finger-like projections called villi. Think of them like millions of tiny fingers reaching out to grab nutrients as food passes by.”
“These villi absorb nutrients into your bloodstream. But when food moves through too quickly, they can't do their job properly. It’s like trying to grab something from a friend as they zoom past on a skateboard."
"Is that why we're not getting enough energy from our meals?" Sarah asked.
"Exactly!”
“Then the remaining material enters your large intestine, where water is absorbed and trillions of helpful bacteria process what's left. These gut bacteria are crucial for your health – they help digest certain foods, produce vitamins, and even influence your mood!"
"You're saying bacteria in my gut can affect how I feel?" a student asked sceptically.
"Absolutely! Scientists call it the gut-brain connection. Your digestive system contains more neurons than your spinal cord! It's often called your 'second brain' because it can operate independently and influences your mood and behaviour."
Maya helped the students understand how to work with their digestive system instead of against it:
YOUR DIGESTION POWER-UPS:
Take time to chew properly – aim for 20-30 chews per bite
Eat slowly and mindfully, without distractions
Sit upright while eating and for a while afterward
Stay hydrated, but don't drink too much while eating
Eat fibre-rich foods to help everything move properly
Listen to your hunger and fullness signals
Give your body time to digest before vigorous activity
The school administrators had been listening too. By the end of the week, they had revised the lunch program to allow proper eating time. They even added a short walk period after lunch to help digestion.
When Maya checked back the following week, the school canteen area was lively again. Students were sitting properly, chewing thoroughly, and actually talking to each other instead of rushing through meals or looking at phones.
"Detective Chen!" Jamie called out. "Guess what? Our team's performance has improved since we started eating properly. Our coach says it's because we're getting more nutrients from our food!"
Maya smiled. "Sometimes the best solution is to slow down and listen to your body. Your digestive system is working 24/7 to keep you healthy – the least we can do is give it time to do its job properly."
Another case solved, and this time by helping students understand the remarkable journey their food takes through their bodies. As she left the school canteen, Maya thought about how proper digestion, like good detective work, couldn't be rushed. Both needed time, attention, and the right conditions to work their magic.
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DIGESTION CHALLENGE:
Try these three digestion-boosting habits this week:
Count your chews for one meal (aim for at least 20 per bite)
Put your phone away during meals and focus just on eating
Take a 10-minute walk after lunch each day
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE:
How long is your small intestine?
Why is chewing so important to digestion?
What happens when you eat too quickly?
What special name is given to the digestive system because of its neurons?
Answers at bottom of page
DIGESTION FACTS:
If you could unfold all the tiny absorptive surfaces in your digestive system, they would cover a tennis court! That's larger than your bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen combined!
Without villi, you'd need a small intestine over 200 metres long!
Your intestines can absorb nutrients faster than you can download a video!
Your digestive system contains more neurons than your spinal cord! It's often called your 'second brain' because it can operate independently and influences your mood and behaviour.
The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve metal, but your stomach lining completely replaces itself every 3-4 days to stay protected!
Answers: 1. 6 metres. 2. It increases food surface area so enzymes (chemicals) can break it down better. 3. You ingest air, and your stomach has to work harder to break down larger pieces of food, causing bloating, acid reflux, and stomach aches. 4. Your second brain, because it operates independently, has a very large number of neurons, and there is a strong gut-brain connection.