How Hard Is It to Digest Beef?
Humans have evolved to eat meat, including beef, so the human body comes equipped with specialized enzymes that break down the tough proteins and fats in beef. But beef is harder for the body to digest than plant foods, because it's entirely protein and fat.
Humans have evolved to eat meat, including beef, so the human body comes equipped with specialized enzymes that break down the tough proteins and fats in beef. But beef is harder for the body to digest than plant foods, because it's entirely protein and fat. Both of these are more difficult for the body to break down than carbohydrates, the primary macronutrient in plant foods.
Early Stages of Digestion
Your body begins breaking down your food when you take your first bite. The mashing of your teeth starts to break the beef down into smaller pieces, creating more surface area for gastric, intestinal and pancreatic juices and specialized enzymes to do their work. But carbohydrates are the only macronutrient where chemical digestion begins in the mouth; the chemical digestion of protein and fat doesn't start until later in the process.
Protein Digestion
A 3-ounce portion of grilled beef tenderloin, trimmed of fat, has 26 grams of protein, all of which your body needs to break down into amino acids. Your body then uses these aminos to fulfill different functions, including building muscle and supporting your immune system. The digestion of protein begins in the stomach, where stomach acid and an enzyme called pepsin start breaking apart the protein bonds. Next, protein passes to the small intestine, where enzymes in the pancreatic and intestinal juices further break down the protein bonds to amino acids, ready for absorption into the bloodstream.
Fat Digestion
The same portion of grilled tenderloin also contains 8 grams of fat. Fat digestion doesn't begin until the food reaches the small intestine. Here, bile salts emulsify the fat molecules so that pancreatic enzymes called lipases can more easily break the fats down into free fatty acids and monoglycerides. These then pass into the epithelial cells that line the intestines, where they're converted into triglycerides. Bundled with cholesterol and covered with protein, the triglycerides are ready for absorption into the bloodstream for transportation to where the body needs them.
Aiding Beef Digestion
Fattier cuts of beef will be more difficult for the body to digest, so if you find that you have trouble digesting beef, choosing leaner cuts can help. Chew the beef thoroughly before swallowing it, to aid digestion once the meat reaches the stomach. To ease digestion, avoid eating large amounts of beef, especially if you don't usually eat much. If you continue to have trouble digesting meat, see your doctor; you could have an intolerance of or even an allergy to beef.