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Describe the food absorption process

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The term digestion includes all the chemical changes that occur while food is being prepared for use by the body..
When digestion is complete proteins no longer exist as such, because they have been split into amino acids. These important foods are taken up by the tiny blood vessels in the wall of the intestine, and carried to the liver. There some of them are changed promptly so as to add to the sugar supply of the body, while others circulate in the blood so as to be available to the tissues, to be used both in the growth of new cells and in replacing those damaged in the activities of living.
Starches and sugars are finally absorbed as simple sugars—chiefly glucose. These simple sugars are carried in the blood stream for a short time following a meal, and the level of the blood sugar may be raised slightly until the surplus sugar is changed to body glycogen. This is accomplished largely by the liver, and glycogen is stored in the liver and muscles for use as need arise.
Digestion brings very interesting changes in the fats eaten. They are changed to glycerol and fatty acids dissolved in bile. These substances enter the cells lining the villi or minute finger-like processes covering the surface of the intestinal wall, and are rebuilt into neutral fats suitable for the use of the human body. The white corpuscles of the blood pick up these particles of fat and transport them into the lymph channels which ultimately empty the fatty solution into the blood stream through the thoracic duct, which unites with the veins near the heart. After absorption the excess fats are removed from the circulation and are added to the deposits of fat in the body, in the form of human fat otherwise known as adipose tissue.
Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed and stored along with fats. Most water-soluble vitamins are absorbed by diffusion or mediated transport. Vitamin B12, because of its large size and charged nature, first binds to a protein, called intrinsic factor, which is secreted by the stomach epithelium, and is then absorbed by endocytosis.
The stomach absorbs some water but most is absorbed at small intestine by diffusion.
After these necessary foods have been removed from the contents of the bowel, and the available water has been withdrawn, useless residue remains.

Titany answered the question on October 6, 2021 at 08:09

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Describe the food absorption process

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