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What two things break down fat?

Lipase from the pancreas further digests fats into monoglycerides and fatty acids. Bile again grabs onto the fat to help move it to the tiny hair-like projections of the intestines. These projections, called microvilli, help transport the fats into the cells of the digestive system.

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Keep reading to learn more about fat digestion, including how it works, which fats are hardest to digest, and more. Fat digestion begins before food even enters the stomach, with chemical digestion starting in the mouth. The body continues digesting fat as food moves through the digestive tract. Fats are a type of lipid that is vital for health. They provide energy, cushion the organs, help cells grow and reproduce, and keep the body warm.

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Lipids are not water soluble, which means that water cannot absorb them or break them down. Most of the body’s digestive enzymes are water-based, so the body has to use special enzymes to break down fat throughout the digestive tract. The body begins breaking down fat in the mouth, using enzymes in saliva . Chewing increases the surface area of foods, allowing the enzymes to break down food more effectively. The most important chemicals that help with fat digestion in the mouth are lingual lipase and phospholipids, which turn fats into small drops. While some fat digestion happens in the stomach, most of this process occurs in the intestines. The next step in fat digestion happens when gastric lipase in the stomach further breaks down fats. As the stomach contracts, this process intensifies. The stomach can convert close to 30% of fats into diglycerides and fatty acids by about 2–4 hours after eating. Next, the contents of the stomach, including the diglycerides and fatty acids, travel to the small intestine. The liver releases bile, which contains lecithin, bile salts, and emulsifiers that help further break down fats. Bile grabs onto the fats, and the emulsifiers increase their surface area, making them easier for digestive enzymes to act on. Following this, enzymes break apart fatty acids. Lipase from the pancreas further digests fats into monoglycerides and fatty acids. Bile again grabs onto the fat to help move it to the tiny hair-like projections of the intestines. These projections, called microvilli, help transport the fats into the cells of the digestive system. From there, the body must absorb fats. To do this, the broken down components of the fats regroup into triacylglycerols. These can join together with cholesterol, phospholipids, and a protein to form lipoproteins. Lipoproteins enter the lymphatic system, and the body then releases them into the bloodstream. As fat digestion requires numerous enzymes, various conditions can affect this process and, as a result, absorption. Liver disorders, small bowel syndrome, and problems with the small intestine can make it more difficult for the body to digest and absorb fat. Due to this, some people with these conditions may notice fatty stools.

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