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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.

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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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.
Nepute Wellness

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Your Digestive System and How It Works

Your Digestive System and How It Works

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Functional medicine has been practiced for decades, with roots in systems biology and integrative medicine. The Institute for Functional Medicine was founded in 1991. Dr. Eric Nepute has been practicing functional medicine approaches for over 20 years, combining it with chiropractic care and advanced diagnostics.
Fasting requirements depend on which tests are included. For blood panels, fasting may be required (typically 8-12 hours). For HRV testing, avoid caffeine and exercise 2-4 hours before. For thermography, avoid hot/cold beverages, exercise, lotions, and deodorant 4-6 hours before. Detailed preparation instructions are sent after booking.
The DNA Discovery Kit uses a simple cheek swab or saliva sample collected at home. Your sample is analyzed at a CLIA-certified lab for over 900,000 genetic markers (SNPs). Results reveal how your genes affect nutrient metabolism, medication response, detoxification capacity, fitness potential, and disease predisposition. You’ll receive personalized insights and actionable recommendations based on YOUR unique genetic blueprint.

Your first visit to Nepute Wellness is designed to feel warm and family-like, not clinical or intimidating. Depending on your chosen examination tier (Basic, Moderate, or Advanced), you’ll undergo

No referral is needed to visit Nepute Wellness. We operate outside the traditional insurance-based healthcare model, which means you can schedule your consultation directly through our website with

Exam costs vary by package: Basic Examination is $199 ($50 deposit), Comprehensive Functional Insights is $399 ($50 deposit), and Human Performance Exam is $1,299 ($50 deposit). Virtual consultations range from $42.42 (Basic) to $420 (Elite). Remaining balances for in-office exams are paid on exam day. See our Solutions page for complete pricing.

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