Does food in general go into the blood and thus "nourishes"the whole body ?

Answer 1

food gets broken down in the digestive tract and the nutrients which are neccessary for cells are absorbed (in the digestive tract-mainly the small intestine)

Answer 2

Yes and no.

Food is broken down as it progresses though the digestive tract from the stomach to the end of the small intestines. The broken down food releases nutrients (simples proteins/amino acids, simple sugars, fatty acids, mineral, vitamins, and a bunch of chemicals/nutrients that we are just starting to learn about). The small intestine is where the majority of these nutrients are absorbed. Some get absorbed in the large intestine, but mostly the large bowel just reabsorbs water. With the exception of lipids/fatty acids, most of the nutrients are transported to the liver first (via the portal vein) then to the rest of the body. The liver gets first crack at almost every substance that enters the body through the GI tract. This allows it to capture glucose for storage (as glycogen), it allows amino acids to be used in the production of albumin, clotting factors, cholesterol for the production of steroids, and a whole host of other "anabolic" or building functions mediated by the liver. It also allows for the detoxification or metabolism of substances like medications. This is called the first pass effect. Then once clear of the liver they nutrients enter the systemic circulation.

What about fats? Most of those are emulsified in structures called chylomicrons which are formed from cholesterol based salts and acids and some proteins. These are brought into the lymphatic system which then transports them back into the systemic circulation.

Answer 3

I'm going to tell you something that will totally astonish you. The food you eat NEVER enters your body!

Whoa! You say. It's true! The food you put into you mouth goes into a tube called the alimentary canal. This is a hollow tube that passes through the body from the mouth to the anus. If your food entered your body, your immune system would attack it and destroy it because it is made of foreign proteins.

The alimentary canal is diversified into the organs of the digestive system (esophogus, stomach, small and large intestines). The food you eat is broken down into smaller molecules (called building blocks) which are not considered foreign by the body. These building blocks are then absorbed by the blood stream and then transported to your body's cells where they are used to build human proteins and to run the body's metabolism.

ANATOMY TEACHER

Answer 4

Some foods enable the better digestion of nutrients etc, an opposite effect is the consumption of certain foods a short while after taking an iron tablet, this would reduce the absorption of iron from the tablet into the body, hence foods have effects upon each other and effects nutrition.

Answer 5

Yes, food is digested or broken down and then absorbed into the blood and lymph and distributed to the rest of the body. Proteins are broken down into amino acids and then reassembled by the cells. Fats and carbohydrates are burned as energy or stored.

Answer 6

Food that contain carbohydrates changes to sugar, and gets in the blood and thus nourishes the whole body. Meats, nuts etc. are proteins that nourishes the muscle...butter, veggie oil are fats that are needed in a small amount but too much fat makes you fat

Answer 7

water is the only substance that goes directly into the bloodstream. every other substance goes through the intestines and get absorded into the body there. some going to the blood stream. so food does not exactely go into the bloodstream, but the chemicals and nutrients in the food do. hope this helps.

Answer 8

Not food as such: proteins and lipids and glucids that are the result of food being decomposed into smaller constituent molecules (by digestion) do pass into the blood. This is what is carried all over to supply each living cell with what it needs, along with oxygen, water and minerals.

Answer 9

No, but the nutrients do. they are digested in the stomach where much of the nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream. Then, it goes to the small intestines where the rest of the nutrients are absorbed. In the large intestines, the water is absorbed. The rest just gets gross so I will leave it out.

Answer 10

it is not the food that goes in to the blood but it is the nutrients. food and nutrients are two different things. the major kind of nutrients that we really talk about is carbohydrate: excess of carbohydrate is converted to glucose and stored in the liver as glycogen.
protein: excess protein is converted to amino acid. this amino acid is dangerous to the body so it is excreted in form of urine or urea.
fats and oil: it is converted to fatty acid and glycerol. it is stored around the muscle and under the skin.