Fats are often known to have a bad rap when it comes to the list of nutrients. However, fats have several benefits that people barely talk about. Fat helps your body perform various processes and provides it with the energy it requires. They cushion the organs, assist in cell growth and reproduction, and keep the body warm. Fat also aids in the absorption of critical vitamins and provides your body with essential fatty acids that help reduce inflammation, promote brain function, and other benefits.

Keep in mind that fat takes longer to digest than other foods, and the amount of time varies depending on the type of fat: saturated fat, trans fat, mono unsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids. Also, the time it takes for fat to digest differs from person to person and between cisgender males and females.

Chemical digestion begins before food even enters the stomach, whereas fat digestion begins in the mouth. The body continues to metabolize fat while food passes through the digestive tract. Continue reading to discover more about fat digestion, including how it works and which fats are the most difficult to digest.

How is Fat Digested?

The process of fat digestion consists of several phases that begin when food enters your mouth. Here's a rundown of the procedure from start to finish:

Mouth

When you chew your food, the digestion process begins. Your teeth break down the food, and your saliva moistens it, making it simpler to flow through your esophagus and into your stomach. Your saliva also contains enzymes, which initiate the breakdown of fat in your diet.

Esophagus

When you swallow, a series of muscle contractions called peristalsis propels the food through your esophagus and into your stomach.

Stomach

Your stomach lining produces acids and enzymes that further break down your food so that it may move to your small intestine.

Can you Improve Fat Digestion?

The answer is YES. Fat digestion can be made easy with certain supplements and enzymes by incorporating foods that contain healthy foods.

Nutritional Supplements

Digestive enzyme supplements are becoming increasingly popular, and more study is needed to determine their effectiveness. However, it has been demonstrated that they may produce promising effects for conditions other than enzyme deficits. These supplements may contain a variety of enzymes that aid in the breakdown of various foods.

Pancreatic Enzymes

Certain pancreatic enzymes are available as prescription medications that aid in food digestion. These are not the same as the enzymes available in health food stores. Pancreatic enzymes, such as pancrelipase (Creon, Pancreaze, Zenpep), are recommended when a medical problem impairs your pancreas' ability to create digestive enzymes. Pancreatic enzymes should only be used as directed by a physician.

Food Sources

Along with papaya and pineapple, you may want to try adding the following spices to your diet: ginger, capsaicin, piperine, and curcumin. These common spices increased bile acid output in rats fed a high-fat diet. Bile is essential for fat digestion and absorption. Some examples of food that contain healthy fat are vegetable oils (olive oil, sesame oil, and canola oil ), nuts (almonds, pecans, cashews), avocado, peanut butter, and almond butter, fatty fish (salmon, sardines, herring, and trout), seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame) and tofu.

Eating a healthy diet that’s low in unhealthy fats, while incorporating healthy fats, can help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of diseases. To get help with the same, get the FITFEAST membership by downloading the FITPASS app today, where you can not only consult with expert nutritionists and get the best diet plan suitable for your needs but also find gyms near you at the tip of your fingers.