We need many different amino acids every day to put together the proteins we need to survive and thrive. We recycle amino acids from proteins our bodies break down daily, but we also need to bring in amino acids from what we eat.
Amino acids are needed by every single cell in the body. Those we get from foods do so by a complex multi-step process. In our gut we are only able to absorb single amino acids or chains of 2 or 3 of them. The foods we eat have proteins that are built from hundreds or thousands of amino acids bonded together.
The process of taking a whole protein and breaking it up into amino acids starts in the mouth. Chewing breaks food stuff up to make the next part of the process work better.
In the stomach we create an acidic environment. The acid environment “denatures” proteins – causing them to unfold allowing better access to enzymes (proteins) to start to break up the long strings of amino acids. Some of these enzymes are activated by stomach acid.
After leaving the stomach the remaining chains of amino acids get broken down by more enzymes.
The process of bringing the amino acids into our blood stream is an active process – they don’t just slip through from the inside of our gut into our bloodstream. There are specialized cells lining our gut that through a multi-step process that requires energy bring amino acids in from the gut and deliver them to the vessels that will transport them.
Once finally in the bloodstream the first stop for amino acids is the liver. The liver is responsible for making a lot of our proteins. One of these major proteins is albumin – an essential part of our circulatory system. We make about 15 grams of albumin a day. Amino acids that are leftover after the liver takes what it needs then can be taken up by every other cell in our body.
Protein digestion and absorption is a complex process. Many factors can affect how this process works. In subsequent articles I will discuss some of these factors and talk about how these factors might influence how we eat.
I am also writing a series of articles on physical activity. Check out the first article in this series “All Ages Can Benefit from Physical Activity”. If you missed my article on what an incredible Father’s Day I just experienced in the Grand Canyon click here.
Russ
Interested in more details about protein digestion and absorption check out these two videos. “How the Body Digests and Absorbs Proteins – Broken Into Easy Steps!” or for PA that uses anatomical specimens to help explain concepts check out “From Mouth to Muscle: How Your Body Absorbs Protein”.
I welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions.
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