Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 10 : Digestion and Absorption of Carbohydrates and Fats

Introduction

The principal constituents of foods namely carbohydrates, lipids and proteins undergo digestion in the gastro-intestinal tract to simpler compounds that are absorbed into the blood stream. The digestion and absorption of food are described under the following heads:

1. Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates,
2. Digestion and absorption of fats, and
3. Digestion and absorption of proteins.

Digestion
The process where food is broken down into forms that can be absorbed by the GI tract.