What are the Main Steps of Nutrition in Humans?
March 1, 2023 | by Yashaswi Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
The main steps of nutrition in humans are ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and elimination. These steps are essential for the proper functioning of the body and maintaining good health and well-being.
Nutrition in humans involves several steps, which are as follows:
- Ingestion: The first step in human nutrition is the intake of food into the body through the mouth. This involves the mechanical process of biting and chewing food, which breaks it down into smaller pieces that can be easily swallowed.
- Digestion: Once the food is swallowed, it enters the digestive system, where it is broken down into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the body. This process involves both mechanical and chemical digestion. The mechanical digestion is done by the mouth, stomach, and small intestine, while the chemical digestion is done by various digestive enzymes and acids.
- Absorption: The smaller molecules that result from the digestion of food are absorbed by the body through the walls of the small intestine. These molecules include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water, which are transported to various parts of the body through the bloodstream.
- Assimilation: Once the nutrients are absorbed by the body, they are transported to various organs and tissues, where they are used for energy, growth, and repair. For example, glucose is used by the body as a source of energy, while amino acids are used to build proteins and repair tissues.
- Elimination: The final step in human nutrition is the elimination of waste products from the body. This involves the excretion of undigested food, fiber, and other waste products from the large intestine in the form of feces.