Here's why:
* Stomach's acidic environment: The stomach contains hydrochloric acid (HCl), which creates an acidic environment that denatures (unfolds) proteins, making them more accessible to proteases.
* Pepsin: The stomach secretes pepsin, a protease that specifically breaks down proteins into smaller peptides.
* Initial protein digestion: The initial stages of protein digestion happen in the stomach, thanks to the action of pepsin and the acidic environment.
While further protein digestion continues in the small intestine with the help of other proteases, the stomach is where the initial breakdown of proteins occurs.
