What is Cellulose?
Cellulose is a complex organic compound widely found in nature. It is a polymeric carbon molecule with a linear chain with thousands of glycosidic bonds.
It consists of unbranched glucose chains (linked D-glucopyranose). They are straight chains connected by hydrogen bonds to form a substance that is insoluble in water in its pure form.
Modified cellulose and pure cellulose differ in chemical composition. They are part of plant cell walls and have no smell or taste. The crystalline nature is insoluble in solvents such as water. Worms and herbivores lack the enzymes to help digest cellulose.
Digestion of Cellulose in Animals
The termite testicle contains mastigophores (microorganisms) that help digest cellulose. Vegetarians, on the other hand, are eaters. They have special chambers in their stomachs for digestion.
The rumen is the first compartment where cellulosic foods are temporarily stored and then returned to the water to digest their waste.
Where there is anaerobic bacterial digestion, due to the presence of bacteria and enzymes in the stomach, they can digest cellulose. The product of such digestion releases methane, which is harmful and destroys the ozone layer on earth.
Digestion of Cellulose in Humans
Cellulose is a fiber that is not digested by the human system. Instead, it contributes to the smooth functioning of the internal network.
The presence of beta-acetals in cellulose distinguishes it from starch and is a decisive factor in its digestibility. Humans do not have the necessary enzyme to break this bond. Also, plant foods make up a large part of the human diet.
Fruits and vegetables contain very little cellulose, which is easy to digest. Fiber contains cellulose, which acts as a drying agent, increasing the amount of food eaten and helping food move more efficiently and quickly.
A high fiber diet reduces the risk of colon cancer because the fiber in food helps decrease the amount of time that stool sits through the. colon wall.
Because it doesn’t dissolve in water, it combines with other ingredients to help stool move and add a big boost to help it pass through the intestines.
These fibers contribute to the growth of bacteria in the intestine that eat sugar and fiber. They maintain intestinal health and control pathogens. Fiber prevents obesity and helps lose weight.
