How Are Water And Other Fluids Digested In The Human Body?

Water is a simple molecule, so our body does not have to break it into smaller, simpler molecules to digest it. In fact, water molecules are so small that they have no problem diffusing through the cell membrane. This cell membrane consists of small channels or pores through which water and ions, such as sodium, enter the cell, meaning that water is absorbed directly through the epithelial cells that cover the human intestinal tract. In short, it means that the intestines are responsible for absorbing most of the water we consume.

The non-water fluids that we normally consume on the other hand are nothing more than chemicals suspended in water. Fruit juice, for example, consists largely of water and sugar, along with several other ingredients such as preservatives, vitamins, and minerals in small quantities. Sugar is broken down by enzymes in the mouth and small intestine, where it is also absorbed into the body. Vitamins may or may not be broken down but are eventually absorbed in the small intestine; the same applies to minerals.