the 3 micronutrients

Carbohydrates, fats and protein are the three macronutrients that are digested and absorbed in the body. Different events happen in different places in the body such as the mouth, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Something different happens in each of these places that has to do the way we digest and absorb these three macronutrients. The body is like a work line, working in an orderly way to make sure digestion and absorption is done properly. Carbohydrates are a primary energy source for our entire body especially the nerve system which means it needs to be digested and absorbed efficiently. Digestion of carbohydrates starts in the mouth where the process of breaking down starch happens and is broken down to maltose. Once it gets to the stomach the acid inactivates the enzyme and then the enzyme is produced in the pancreas. Once it gets to the small intestine, that’s where most of the chemical digestion occurs and the enzyme is secreted into the small intestine. Once secreted in the small intestine mucosal cells digest disaccharides to monosaccharides. Monosacchrides are absorbed into the cells lining the small intestine and then enter the blood stream then converted to glucose in the liver. The glucose circulating in the blood is our main energy source. Bacteria in the large intestine can break down some fiber but not all most fiber remains undigested are eliminated with feces. Fats are not digested and absorbed as easily because they down break down in water. Hardly anything happens in the mouth although salivary lipase is secreted and minimal digestion occurs in the stomach from gastric lipase. Bile is produced and stored in the gall bladder. Digestion and absorption primarily in the small intestine. When it enters the small intestine bile is secreted from the gallbladder and the bile is made into smaller fat droplets. Pancreatic enzymes break triglycerides into two separate fatty acids and monoglyceride. After the cell, the two fatty acids and monoglyceride reform a triglyceride and the triglyceride is used immediately for energy, lipid containing compounds and stored in the liver and muscle cells. Digestion of protein happens in the stomach hydrochloric acid breaks down protein structure and activates pepsin. It then goes the small intestine pancreatic enzymes called proteases complete digestion of proteins into single amino acids. From there amino acids are sent to the liver and sent to the cells as needed.