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Your Digestive System and How It Works

An evidence based overview of how your digestive system works, from the NIDDK, and why gut health is foundational to overall wellness.
Digestive System - Nepute Wellness Resource

About This Resource

Understanding how your digestive system works is a foundational step in a root cause approach to health. This resource draws from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to explain digestive function in clear, accessible terms.

Why We Share It

At Nepute Wellness, gut health is one of the first areas we assess because it influences far more than just digestion. This resource helps you understand the foundation that makes gut health so important.

Why Gut Health Is Foundational

At Nepute Wellness, gut health is one of the first areas we assess. Research consistently demonstrates that the digestive system influences far more than just digestion: it affects immune function, mental health through the gut brain axis, nutrient absorption, hormone balance, and inflammation throughout the body.

The NIDDK provides excellent foundational information about how the digestive system works, and we share this resource because understanding the basics helps you understand why we take gut health so seriously.

How Digestion Works

Digestion begins in the mouth and involves a coordinated process through the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and supporting organs (liver, pancreas, gallbladder). Each stage serves a specific purpose in breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste.

The small intestine is where most nutrient absorption occurs. This is also where the gut microbiome is most concentrated and where disruptions may have the greatest impact on overall health.

The Root Cause Connection

Many patients come to Nepute Wellness with symptoms that seem unrelated to digestion: fatigue, brain fog, skin problems, hormonal imbalances, or chronic inflammation. Yet research published in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology has demonstrated that gut health may be a root cause factor in many of these conditions.

This is why “Test, Don’t Guess” often includes gut health assessment. Understanding what is happening in the digestive system may reveal root causes that would otherwise go unaddressed.

Supporting Your Digestive Health

The NIDDK recommends several foundational strategies: eating a balanced diet rich in fiber, staying hydrated, managing stress (which directly affects gut function), and working with healthcare providers to address persistent digestive concerns.

At Nepute Wellness, we build on these foundations with targeted approaches including microbiome testing, food sensitivity assessment, and personalized nutritional counseling.

Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH. Public domain material used with attribution.

Root cause, not symptom management: your gut health may be the key to understanding your overall wellness.

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Also In This Collection:

Understanding Your Immune System
Understanding Stress and Your Body
Personal Health Inventory: What Matters to You
Knowledge Is Power

Wisdom Is Applying It To Your Life.

The digestive system influences far more than just digestion: it affects immune function, mental health, nutrient absorption, hormone balance, and inflammation throughout the body.
Valdes AM et al. BMJ, 2018
Many symptoms that seem unrelated to digestion, like fatigue, brain fog, and skin problems, may have gut health as a root cause factor.
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Your Digestive System and How It Works

Your Digestive System and How It Works

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Frequently Asked Questions

We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, HSA/FSA cards, and cash. Online bookings use secure payment processing. For in-office exams, the $50 deposit is paid online, and the remaining balance is paid in-office on exam day. We can provide payment plans for larger packages – contact us to discuss options.

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Most people experience no side effects. Some may feel mild soreness or stiffness for 24-48 hours after their first adjustment, similar to starting a new exercise. Serious complications are extremely rare. We use gentle, specific techniques tailored to your comfort level and condition. If you have concerns about adjustments, we can discuss alternative approaches.
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Yes. Nepute Wellness can ship virtual testing kits directly to your home, no matter where you are. This makes it possible for patients across the country and around the world to access our diagnost

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I am a patient at Dr Eric Nepute ‘s office Nepute Wellness Center in St Louis MO. I can’t say enough good things about this practice. From the time you walk in the door and are greeted at the front desk by Haley and Deidra. They are so friendly and helpful. So very organized and always get back to you promptly with answers for your questions. The staff is very friendly and take care of you like family. As far as Dr. Nepute he brought me out of one of the worst times of my life. Last summer at the end of July 2025 I began to have tremors and shaking. I had been to several doctors who had no idea how to help me. Dr Nepute knew right away what was causing the shakiness and treated me. Within 2 weeks the tremors had stopped. My vagus nerve was the cause. I am continuing to work with Dr Nepute on my overall health and other issues. He is so patient and takes his time with you to explain your test results and gives solutions on how to improve your health. He is very thorough and knowledgeable. He truly is the most caring doctor I know and really wants to see his patients get better and enjoy a healthy life. He is one in a million.
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Functional Medicine Clinic in St. Louis, MO

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