Protein Digestion & Absorption

Digestion of proteins takes place in different stages. The initial phase of protein digestion and absorption occurs in the stomach and the latter takes place in the small intestine. Proteins provide the body with amino acids, which are required by the body, but unfortunately, the body is incapable of producing them by its own. Well, the protein digestion process basically consists of the breakdown of proteins into amino acids. Read further to explore information about protein absorption rate…

There are distinctive kinds of enzymes that aid in the digestion and absorption of proteins. The enzyme called pepsin does its work in the stomach and it works best when the stomach is acidic. It breaks down the large protein molecules into smaller ones. It is here where the proteins get partly digested in the body.

In the small intestine, there are other enzymes that take over the charge of protein digestion in the body. These enzymes aid in protein absorption, by breaking the small protein molecules into amino acids. Protein absorption rate is faster for animal origin foods, rather than vegetarian plant origin foods, perhaps because vegetable proteins usually contain cellulose covering.