Our food must be chemically broken down or hydrolyzed in order for its components to be transported via the circulatory system and brought to the cells where they are needed. When food is digested, it is broken down into end-products--these are the nutrients the cell needs for synthesis, growth, repair and energy.
The process of hydrolysis involves the addition of water molecules which break the chemical bonds in polymer reactants and forms smaller end--products that the cells of the body can use. Enzymes are organic catalysts that speed along the process of hydrolysis (digestion).
Carbohydrates include foods that contain starch or sugar and are hydrolyzed into monosaccharides (simple sugars). The monosaccharide glucose is an important source of chemical energy cells use during respiration to produce ATP--the cell's energy currency.
Lipids are hydrolyzed into their components--fatty acids and glycerol. These are an energy reserve or are used for synthesis of other body structures.
Proteins are polymers consisting of amino acid sub-units. Amino acids are needed by the body for synthesis, growth and repair. Enzymes, hormones, cell membranes, muscle tissue are all examples of proteins synthesized in the body that are assembled from amino acid sub-units.
Other important compounds in food are vitamins and minerals. Water is also present in most foods and is a vital substance to living things.
To summarize, digestion chemically breaks down large food molecules into small, usable end products that are the nutrients cells need for their survival. These include glucose, amino acids, fatty acids and glycerol, water, vitamins and minerals.
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