Which Nutrients Must Be Broken Down in Order to Be Absorbed

The food contains three macronutrients that require digestion before they can be absorbed: fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Through the process of digestion, these macronutrients are broken down into molecules that can traverse the intestinal epithelium and enter the bloodstream for use in the body.

Which nutrients need to be broken down?

• Protein must be broken down into amino acids.
• Starches break down into simple sugars.
• Fats break down into into fatty acids and glycerol.

What are nutrients broken down and absorbed by?

The muscles of the small intestine mix food with digestive juices from the pancreas, liver, and intestine and push the mixture forward to help with further digestion. The walls of the small intestine absorb the digested nutrients into the bloodstream. The blood delivers the nutrients to the rest of the body.