Which type of reactions — catabolic or anabolic — do you think occur when your body digests food

When your body digests food, it primarily undergoes catabolic reactions. Here's a step-by-step explanation:

1. Ingestion: The process begins when you consume food. The food is broken down into smaller pieces by the mechanical action of your teeth in a process known as mastication.

2. Digestion: The food then travels down your esophagus and into your stomach, where it is broken down further by stomach acid and enzymes. This is a catabolic process because large food molecules are being broken down into smaller ones.

3. Absorption: The broken-down food molecules then move into your small intestine. Here, they are absorbed into your bloodstream. This is also a catabolic process because it involves the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones that can be absorbed.

4. Utilization: Once in your bloodstream, these simple molecules are transported to your cells, where they are used for energy, growth, and repair. This is where anabolic reactions come into play, as these simple molecules are used to build more complex molecules.

So, in summary, digestion primarily involves catabolic reactions, but the molecules produced during digestion are later used in anabolic reactions within your cells.