/sci/ - Science & Math

>>12019403
Theoretically, your saliva contains amylase and lipases, which are enzymes that can help break down carbohydrates and lipids. However you can't actually absorb the contents of the broken down nutrients in your mouth, it needs to go to your small bowel to be absorbed (your colon doesn't actually absorb anything in terms of nutrients). In your small bowel the broken down carbohydrates and lipids can be absorbed. Moreover, your saliva has no way of breaking down proteins into small peptides and amino acids; this is a special role of your pancreas which releases an enzyme called trypsin to enable protein breakdown (your stomach incidentally also helps in protein breakdown via pepsin, but technically you can live without your stomach). The small bowel then absorbs these broken down proteins.

Your colon (large intestine) mostly functions as a storehouse for your shit and for altering the fluid content of your shit so that you aren't losing too many electrolytes when you go to the toilet.