Nutrition & Diet Therapy

Absorption and Digestion

• Absorption involves substances passing through the intestinal mucosa into the blood or lymph.
• The main site for metabolism in the body is the liver.
• The duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine, mainly absorbs glucose and water-soluble vitamins.
• Ingestion is the process of taking food, drink, or another substance into the body by swallowing or absorbing.
• Assimilation involves the set of processes through which absorbed nutrients are used by the body for energy and to form and maintain body structures and functions.

Small Intestine Absorption

• The ileum, which is the last part of the small intestine, mainly absorbs minerals.

Energy and Enzymes

• The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the term for the amount of energy required to maintain life-sustaining activities for a specific period.
• Absorption occurs mainly in the small intestines through the villi, which are small finger-like projections that increase the surface area for absorption.

Factors of Ingestion

• Important factors in the process of ingestion include hunger, appetite, and the physical properties of food.

Enzymes

• Enzymes are biological molecules, such as proteins, that speed up chemical reactions in the body, playing a crucial role in digestion.