How does saliva turn your food into sugar?

Saliva contains enzymes, primarily amylase, which begin the process of breaking down carbohydrates in food into simpler sugars. When you chew, saliva mixes with the food, and amylase hydrolyzes starches into maltose and other sugars. This enzymatic action starts the digestion process, allowing your body to absorb these sugars for energy as the food moves through the digestive system. However, the full conversion of food into sugar occurs mainly in the intestines, where additional enzymes complete the breakdown.