Why must starch be broken down into small molecules before the body can use it?

Starch must be broken down into small molecules, primarily glucose, because the body can only absorb monosaccharides and some disaccharides through the intestinal wall. Enzymes in the digestive system, such as amylase, facilitate this breakdown process, converting starch into simpler sugars. These smaller molecules can then be transported into the bloodstream and utilized by cells for energy. Without this breakdown, starch would remain too large to be absorbed and utilized by the body.