– If our stomach acids are so acidic and able to essentially puree food to be digested, then why does stuff like corn and seeds not breakdown?

Question

I’ve always wondered this. I know it’s something to do with cellulose in the corn but wouldn’t the hydrochloric acids in the stomach be so acidic that it breaks down everything?

In: Biology

Answer 1

You’re right, it has to do with the cellulose. Acids *will* break down cellulose, but it takes a long time. Cellulose is made of a lot of long strands that are packed very tightly together, and the parts of the strands that the acid would attack are shielded in the interior of the packing. Ruminants like cows have gut bacteria to break it down, but we do not.

And the why of it is, well, that’s why cellulose evolved. Not to be tough to digest, but just to be tough in general. It makes up the exterior of plants to protect them from the elements and support their structure. It’s why we use cellulose, in the forms of plant matter like wood and cotton. It’s just a really strong, resistant molecule that can take a lot of damage.