Digestion
Digestion is important for breaking down food into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair. Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients before the blood absorbs them and carries them to cells throughout the body. The body breaks down nutrients from food and drink into carbohydrates, protein, fats, and vitamins.
- Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the sugars, starches, and fiber found in many foods. Carbohydrates are called simple or complex, depending on their chemical structure. Simple carbohydrates include sugars found naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk, and milk products, as well as sugars added during food processing.
- Protein. Foods such as meat, eggs, and beans consist of large molecules of protein that the body digests into smaller molecules called amino acids. The body absorbs amino acids through the small intestine into the blood, which then carries them throughout the body.
- Fats. Fat molecules are a rich source of energy for the body and help the body absorb vitamins. Oils, such as corn, canola, olive, safflower, soybean, and sunflower, are examples of healthy fats. Butter, shortening, and snack foods are examples of less healthy fats.
- Vitamins. Scientists classify vitamins by the fluid in which they dissolve. Water-soluble vitamins include all the B vitamins and vitamin C. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Each vitamin, has a different role in the body’s growth and health.
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PATIENT EDUCATION
Archive:
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- March (10)
- Did you know? Food
- Did you know? Celiac disease
- Did you know? Upper endoscopy
- What Happens After a Colonoscopy?
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Did you know! - Digestive Food
- Advantages of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy
- Caffeine stimulates gastrointestinal tract motility
- Hydrochloric acid
- Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
- February (14)
- Who is not a candidate for the Bravo pH Monitoring System?
- Crohn’s disease is part of a group of digestive conditions called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Did you know? An adult female’s small intestine is longer than the average adult male’s.
- Colorectal Cancer Awareness
- Dress in Blue Day
- Celiac Disease
- DigestiveHealth
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Effects of coffee, Vitamin C on liver disease
- Spicy Food
- Borborygmi
- Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Complications
- Screening finds CRC at earlier stages
- Colorectal Cancers
- 2015
- August (8)
- Fatty Foods
- Did you know: Hydrochloric acid
- What should I expect post colonoscopy?
- Did you know: Within the colon
- What you eat can contribute to digestive problems
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography, or ERCP
- Eliminating Helicobacter pylori may cut cancer risk
- Recommendations issued for Clostridium difficile prevention
- 2014
- 2013