What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?
Answer
Saliva is a watery liquid secreted by the salivary glands present in the mouth and it is responsible for digestion of starch in our food.
- Saliva lubricates and moistens food , thus aiding in swallowing.
- An enzyme called amylase helps to breakdown starch into a simpler sugar called maltose to be easily absorbed by the body.
- Since amylase is present in the saliva, it is called salivary amylase .
