DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND NUTRITION IN HUMANS
Introduction:
- Food is vital for all living organisms, providing essential components for survival.
- Major components include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, alongside vitamins and minerals in smaller quantities.
- Food serves the purpose of providing energy and organic materials for growth and tissue repair.
- Water is crucial for metabolic processes and prevents dehydration in the body.
- Biomacromolecules in food cannot be directly utilized by the body and require breakdown.
- Digestion is the process of converting complex food substances into simpler, absorbable forms.
- This process occurs in the digestive system through mechanical and biochemical methods.
- Physical breakdown of food into smaller particles for easier digestion.
- Examples include chewing in the mouth and churning in the stomach.
- Chemical breakdown of food molecules into simpler forms through enzymes.
- Enzymes play a crucial role in breaking down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into absorbable forms.
- After digestion, nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine.
- Nutrients are then transported to various parts of the body for utilization.