Let's talk about the unique difference between the small intestine and the large intestine

or the colon.

Over here we have the small intestine, so you have the stomach, the small intestine,

it connects with through a valve, illiosecal valve, and then the food goes through the

large intestine.

One thing to know about the small intestine, it's a lot longer.

There's three parts.

The first part is about a little more than a foot, it's between 10 and 15 inches.

The next part is about 8 feet, and the last part is between 8 feet and 13 feet, so it's

quite long.

Now the colon or the large intestine is about 5 feet, so let's start with the small intestine.

90% of all the digestion occurs in the small intestine.

Now you have enzymes that are generated from the pancreas, and you also have enzymes that

are generated from the small intestine itself to help break down proteins, carbohydrates,

in fat, minus the fiber.

Our bodies do not have the capacity to break down fiber, we just don't have the enzymes.

However, we have a lot of microbes in the large bowel that can ferment the fiber and break

it down, and that's converted to some really healthy things, which we'll get to.

Now in the first part of the small intestine, you have the contents of the stomach, and

also some of the juices from the pancreas coming out to help neutralize all the acid from

the stomach.

So we have a lot of digestion happening right here, we also have the absorption of iron.

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