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11 grade biology others

The Saliva helps in digestion of?a. Starchb. Proteinsc. Fibresd. Fats

Profile image of Aniket Singh
1 Year agoGrade
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1 Answer

Profile image of Askiitians Tutor Team
1 Year ago

The correct answer is (a) Starch.

Saliva plays a role in the initial stages of digestion, primarily in the mouth. It contains an enzyme called amylase, which helps break down starches into simpler sugars. Starch is a complex carbohydrate found in foods such as bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta. When you chew and mix these foods with saliva, amylase begins the process of breaking down the starch molecules into smaller sugar molecules, such as maltose.

Proteins are primarily digested in the stomach and small intestine with the help of stomach acid and enzymes like pepsin and trypsin. Fibers, also known as dietary fibers, are not digested by enzymes in the human body but instead pass through the digestive system mostly intact. Fats, on the other hand, are primarily broken down by enzymes called lipases, which are produced in the pancreas and released into the small intestine. Saliva does not play a significant role in the digestion of proteins, fibers, or fats.