Level 1:
Your stomach growls when it is empty. It is a sign your body needs food. But it can also growl after you eat. This happens when gas moves in your tummy. Your stomach works all the time. Even when you sleep. So, you hear those funny sounds!
Level 2:
Everyone’s stomach growls at times. It’s your body’s way of saying it’s time to eat. When your stomach is empty, its walls fold in and rub together, making a growling sound.
But did you know that your stomach can also growl after you eat? This is because gas and liquid are moving around in your digestive system. The muscles in your stomach squeeze, push and churn these materials around, creating those familiar rumbling noises.
Your stomach is always at work, breaking down food and moving it through your system. So listen next time your stomach ‘talks’ to you - it could be trying to tell you something important!
Full Story:
Your stomach’s a real chatterbox, isn’t it? One minute you’re minding your own business, and the next, your tummy is rumbling and grumbling loud enough for everyone to hear. It’s as if your stomach has a language all its own! But have you ever wondered why this happens? What’s going on inside your body when your stomach starts growling? Let’s dive in and get to the bottom of this mystery.
Believe it or not, the scientific term for a growling stomach is ‘borborygmi.’ This tongue-twisting name refers to the growling, grumbling, or gurgling noise made by the movement of gas, fluid, or food through the gut. When your stomach is empty, its muscular walls have nothing to do but collapse into each other — and this produces a low, growling sound.
However, that’s not the only time your stomach talks to you. Even after you’ve eaten, your stomach can growl its head off. That’s because tiny muscle contractions in your stomach and small intestine help to digest your food. These contractions mix the food with digestive fluids, and this process can also generate noise. When these normal digestive noises get a bit out of hand, we experience what we commonly refer to as ‘stomach growling.‘
It’s also worth noting that certain foods can make your stomach noisier than others. Foods that are high in fiber or create gas when they decompose, such as beans, peas, cabbage, and carbonated drinks, can stir up a storm in your stomach and lead to louder growling noises.
Your stomach is a 24/7 kind of organ. It doesn’t clock out when you go to bed. It’s continuously processing food, contracting, and releasing gas. So, even while you’re catching some zzz’s, your stomach is still hard at work, which can sometimes lead to nighttime growling.
In conclusion, stomach growling is a natural and often inevitable bodily function that signals activity within your digestive system. It’s your body’s way of letting you know it’s doing its job of breaking down food and regulating digestion. So next time your tummy starts to rumble, don’t be embarrassed - give it the recognition it deserves for all the hard work it’s doing!
Questions:
Question: What causes a stomach to growl?
Answer: Stomach growling, or ‘borborygmi,’ is caused by the movement of gas, fluid, or food through the gut. When the stomach is empty, its muscular walls collapse into each other, creating a low, growling sound. After eating, tiny muscle contractions in the stomach and small intestine can also create noise as they aid in digestion.
Question: Can certain foods cause louder stomach growling?
Answer: Yes, certain foods such as those high in fiber or those which create gas when they decompose, like beans, peas, cabbage, and carbonated drinks, can cause louder and more frequent stomach growling.
Question: Does the stomach continue to make noises while you are sleeping?
Answer: The stomach continues to process food, contract, and release gas 24 hours a day, even during sleep, which can sometimes result in nighttime growling.
Question: What is the term for a growling stomach?
Answer: The scientific term for a growling stomach is ‘borborygmi.‘
Question: Is stomach growling a normal bodily function?
Answer: Yes, stomach growling is a normal and often inevitable bodily function that signals activity within your digestive system.
Fill in the Blanks:
wondered, dive in, get to the bottom, tongue-twisting, growl its head off, out of hand, stir up a storm
Your stomach’s a real chatterbox, isn’t it? But have you ever ________ why this happens?
Let’s ________ and ________ of this mystery.
Believe it or not, the scientific term for a growling stomach is ‘borborygmi.’ This ________ name refers to the growling, grumbling, or gurgling noise made by the movement of gas, fluid, or food through the gut.
Even after you’ve eaten, your stomach can ________.
When these normal digestive noises get a bit ________, we experience what we commonly refer to as ‘stomach growling.‘
Certain foods can ________ in your stomach and lead to louder growling noises.
Vocabulary:
Wondered - (verb) thought about something with a desire to understand or know more about it.
Dive in - (phrasal verb) start doing something in a very enthusiastic way.
Get to the bottom - (phrase) discover the truth about something; investigate thoroughly.
Tongue-twisting - (adjective) difficult to say quickly because of its sequence of sounds.
Growl its head off - (phrase) make a growling sound persistently and loudly.
Out of hand - (phrase) out of control; unmanageably chaotic.
Stir up a storm - (phrase) cause a situation to become more complicated or agitated.
