Digestive System and Fat Digestion: A Complete Study

The digestion of fat in our bodies occurs in a series of steps that begin as soon as food enters your mouth. Here's a look at the process from start to finish:

1. Mouth

The digestion process begins when you start chewing your food. Teeth break food into smaller pieces, and saliva moistens the food, making it easier for the food to move through the esophagus and into the stomach. Saliva also contains enzymes that begin to break down the fats in your food.

2. Esophagus

When you swallow, a series of muscle contractions called peristalsis moves food into your stomach.

3. Stomach

The lining of the stomach produces acids and enzymes that break down your food further so the food can pass into the small intestine.

4. Small Intestine

Most digestion of fat occurs after it reaches the small intestine. This is where most nutrients are absorbed. The pancreas produces enzymes that break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

The liver produces bile which helps digest fats and some vitamins. This bile is stored in the gallbladder and is transported through the digestive juice ducts to the small intestine where they all work together to complete the breakdown of fat. During this process, fat and cholesterol are packaged into tiny particles called chylomicrons.

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After digestion, the fatty acids are transported through the lymphatic system and then through the bloodstream to be used or stored throughout the body for energy, cell repair and growth. The lymphatic system also absorbs fatty acids to help fight infection.

Adipose, which is fat tissue, takes up triglycerides from chylomicrons. Each chylomicron gets smaller, eventually leaving a residue that is rich in cholesterol and is taken up by the liver.

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• Nutrients

This process can be improved by eating nutrient-rich enzymes, which help break down specific foods. For example, lipase aids in the digestion of fats, while amylase helps break down carbohydrates, bromelain, and papain. Bromelain and papain are both enzymes that help break down proteins.

A study in 2013 showed that papain may help with digestion and relieve symptoms such as bloating and constipation in people with IBS.

• Pancreatic Enzymes

Some pancreatic enzymes come as prescription medications that help digest food.

Pancreatic enzymes, such as pancrelipase (Creon, Pancreas, Zenep), are used when a medical condition prevents the pancreas from properly producing the enzymes needed for digestion. The following are the situations:

• pancreatic cyst

• pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic enzymes should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor.

• Food Source

Along with including papaya and pineapple in your diet, you can use ginger, piperine, curcumin etc.

A 2011 animal study found that these common spices stimulated the secretion of bile with greater amounts of bile acids in rats on a high-fat diet and that bile plays an important role in the digestion and absorption of dietary fat.

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If you're concerned about the fat intake in your diet, don't eat the fats that are more harmful. You can add more healthy fats to your diet. It is good to consume foods containing omega-3 fatty acids as they are beneficial for heart health.

• Healthy Fat Foods

Here are some examples of foods that contain healthy fats:

• Vegetable oils, such as olive oil, sesame oil, and canola oil

• Nuts including almonds, pecans and cashews

• avocado

• Peanut Butter and Almond Butter

• fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, herring, and trout

• seeds, such as sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame

• Tofu

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While including healthy fats, reducing unhealthy fats can help maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of diseases. Remember that it's important to talk to your doctor before making any major changes to your diet or starting any new supplements so they can make sure you're eating well.