Which part of the digestive system is responsible for absorbing food into the blood system?
It is in the small intestine that most nutrients are digested and absorbed, although different nutrients are absorbed at different speeds. Typically carbs are digested most rapidly, followed by proteins and finally fats. Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) consist of molecules tiny enough for the body to absorb without breaking them down first, but water soluble vitamins are absorbed faster than fat soluble ones. The duodenum and jejunum is where the chyme is broken down, while the ileum is responsible for absorbing nutrients into the bloodstream. The absorbed nutrients pass through the bloodstream to the liver where they are processed and either stored or distributed to other parts of the body. After every useful, digestible ingredient other than water has been wrung out of the chyme, the remaining “waste” passes into the large intestine. Approximately 17 feet in length, the small intestine is a coiled tube made up of three sections – the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. As the semi-di
