Question

If we eat approximately 3 lbs of food per day, and only produce about ½ lb of solid waste, where does the rest go? Explain using specific Scientific terms.

Answer 1

The majority of the food we eat is absorbed in the small intestine, with the remaining water absorbed in the large intestine. Solid waste, known as feces or stool, is made up of undigested food residues, unabsorbed digested substances, bacteria, old cells, inorganic salts, and water. Only a small portion of the food we consume becomes feces.

Step-by-step explanation:

The majority of the food that we eat is absorbed in the small intestine and the remaining water is absorbed in the large intestine. The solid waste, known as feces or stool, is formed from undigested food residues, unabsorbed digested substances, bacteria, old cells, inorganic salts, and water. Only a small portion of the food we consume becomes feces, with about 150 mL (5 ounces) of every 500 mL (17 ounces) of food residue becoming waste.