How is chocolate milk digested through the body?

Answer 1

The digestion starts in the mouth, where amylase in your saliva breaks starch molecules into sugars.

Next, in the stomach. Acid and enzymes are secreted. Protease and hydrochloric acid break down the proteins. Later, the milk enters the small intestine.

First in the small intestine is the duodenum. In the duodenum, the pancreatic amylase, secreted by the pancreas, continues the breakdown of the carbohydrates. Pancreatic lipase then breaks down the fat of the chocolate milk. Sucrase, maltase, and lactase are released into the small intestine, who helps break down their respective sugar molecules into glucose. The trypsin enzyme and the peptidase enzyme break down proteins in the duodenum as well. Bile ducts connect the liver and gallblader with the duodenum.

In the second part of the small intestine (jujunum), carbohydrates and fats are digested and some carbohydrates and fats are absorbed into villi and broken down.

In the ileum the rest of the nutrients are absorbed through villi. When the chocolate milk reaches the third portion of the small intestine, the sugars are broken down enough to be absorbed into the blood along with vitamins and minerals. The ileum absorbs the fat-soluble vitamins in the chocolate milk (Vitamins A, D, E, and K2) as well as vitamin B12. Bile acids are also absorbed and sent through the bloodstream to the liver. Once these acids reach the liver, they become part of the bile. Bile's main function is to breakdown cholesterol and fats in the body and keeps cholesterol levels stable in the body (which contributes to why dietary cholesterol is largely irrelevant).

After the chocolate milk travels through the small intestine, the milk travels through ileocecal valve into the cecum in the large intestine. The cecum absorbs fluids and salts left after the digestion in the small intestine. The cecum also mixes the contents with mucus.

Next, the colon contains some bacteria that can digest small amounts of cellulose. The bacteria forms vitamin K, vitamin B12, thiamin, and riboflavin. Liquid and salt is removed from the chocolate milk waste as it goes through the colon. The chocolate milk waste is pushed through the colon through a process called peristalsis, which is the contraction and relaxation of the colon muscles. The fiber is broken down and acetate, propionate, and butyrate are released. The waste then moves to the place we all know and love (rectum).

I probably glossed over some things. I used this to better remember the digestive system, feel free to correct mistakes and missing info.