Digestion

• The stomach is the organ that stores food, mixes it with digestive juices from the liver and pancreas, and breaks down proteins.
• The process of digesting food begins in the mouth
• Digestion involves breaking down large molecules into smaller ones so they can be absorbed by cells lining the small intestine
• Chemical digestion occurs when enzymes break down complex substances like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into simpler forms
• Chemical digestion involves enzymatic reactions that break down complex carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into simpler substances
• Mechanical digestion involves physical processes such as chewing, grinding, mixing, and churning to mechanically break up food particles
• There are two types of digestion chemical and mechanical
• Carbohydrases - Enzyme group responsible for breaking down carbohydrates (starches) into simple sugars
• Enzymes are biological catalysts produced by living organisms that speed up biochemical reactions without being used up or changed themselves.
• Lipase - An enzyme that breaks down lipids/fats into fatty acids and glycerol
• Nutrients are derived from the food that is digested and the waste is excreted through urine or feces
• The process of digestion begins with the mouth where food is broken down physically by teeth and chemically by saliva containing amylase which converts starch into maltose