Do Fats Digest More Slowly Than Carbohydrates and Proteins? Essay Example
Do Fats Digest More Slowly Than Carbohydrates and Proteins?
The foods we eat are classified into six elementary groups: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. These foods are broken down into various nutrients during digestion. The time taken for the body to extract nutrients and the complexity of the digestion process depend on the molecular nature of the food eaten. Fat molecules seem more complex than the others so its digestion often takes a longer time. Types of Fat Fats molecules are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Based on the arrangements of these atoms, fats are grouped into: saturated, poly-unsaturated, mono-unsaturated and trans. Macronutrients, Oxidation and Energy Fats, carbohydrates and proteins are regarded as macronutrients because the body usually extracts other nutrients from them. In addition to supporting body growth, development and repair, macronutrients give us energy. This energy is measured in calories. When fat, carbohydrate and protein undergo oxidation, carbon-dioxide, water and energy are released. But according to Cleveland Clinic, fat gives nine calories per gram, while carbohydrate and protein each gives four calories per gram. Fat molecule has more carbon atoms than carbohydrate and protein. So to release energy, fat requires more oxygen. Thus oxidation of fat takes a longer time. Digestion Saliva contains carbohydrate digestive enzymes. So digestion of carbohydrates begins from the mouth, down through the small to the large intestine. Complex carbohydrates digest in the large intestine. Protein and fat require gastric and pancreatic enzymes for digestion. Fat digestion is slower than carbohydrate and protein digestion because fat has higher caloric mass and its digestion starts from the pancreas. Sometimes, fat digestion begins from the mouth. But fat generally reaches the duodenum undigested. According to February 2010 issue of "Advances in Physiology Education" journal, only about 15% of fat
The foods we eat are classified into six elementary groups: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. These foods are broken down into various nutrients during digestion. The time taken for the body to extract nutrients and the complexity of the digestion process depend on the molecular nature of the food eaten. Fat molecules seem more complex than the others so its digestion often takes a longer time. Types of Fat Fats molecules are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Based on the arrangements of these atoms, fats are grouped into: saturated, poly-unsaturated, mono-unsaturated and trans. Macronutrients, Oxidation and Energy Fats, carbohydrates and proteins are regarded as macronutrients because the body usually extracts other nutrients from them. In addition to supporting body growth, development and repair, macronutrients give us energy. This energy is measured in calories. When fat, carbohydrate and protein undergo oxidation, carbon-dioxide, water and energy are released. But according to Cleveland Clinic, fat gives nine calories per gram, while carbohydrate and protein each gives four calories per gram. Fat molecule has more carbon atoms than carbohydrate and protein. So to release energy, fat requires more oxygen. Thus oxidation of fat takes a longer time. Digestion Saliva contains carbohydrate digestive enzymes. So digestion of carbohydrates begins from the mouth, down through the small to the large intestine. Complex carbohydrates digest in the large intestine. Protein and fat require gastric and pancreatic enzymes for digestion. Fat digestion is slower than carbohydrate and protein digestion because fat has higher caloric mass and its digestion starts from the pancreas. Sometimes, fat digestion begins from the mouth. But fat generally reaches the duodenum undigested. According to February 2010 issue of "Advances in Physiology Education" journal, only about 15% of fat