
A Physiology for Pre-digestion Human digestive physiology allows time for exogenous enzymes (externally derived) to act on foods consumed in the upper or gastric portion of the stomach. Masticated foods remain in this portion of the stomach for an hour or more while hydrochloric acid is concentrating in the lower or pyloric portion of the stomach. This may seem a short time for any significant pre-digestive activity to occur, but food enzymes are very fast and efficient. This can be observed by bruising an apple and noticing how quickly the enzymes begin working, which becomes evident by the discoloration of the damaged area. This experiment is best performed on tree picked fruit, as irradiation (which is very damaging to enzymes) has been approved as a method of extending the shelf life of fresh raw foods. Unfortunately, this technological advancement also expedites the near complete removal of exogenous enzyme sources from the average consumers’ diet.

A Physiology for Pre-digestion

Human digestive physiology allows time for exogenous enzymes (externally derived) to act on foods consumed in the upper or gastric portion of the stomach. Masticated foods remain in this portion of the stomach for an hour or more while hydrochloric acid is concentrating in the lower or pyloric portion of the stomach. This may seem a short time for any significant pre-digestive activity to occur, but food enzymes are very fast and efficient. This can be observed by bruising an apple and noticing how quickly the enzymes begin working, which becomes evident by the discoloration of the damaged area. This experiment is best performed on tree picked fruit, as irradiation (which is very damaging to enzymes) has been approved as a method of extending the shelf life of fresh raw foods. Unfortunately, this technological advancement also expedites the near complete removal of exogenous enzyme sources from the average consumers’ diet.