What is digestion?

Digestion refers specifically to the breakdown of food into smaller components that can be absorbed and utilized by the body. This process begins in the mouth, where food is mechanically and chemically broken down, and continues in the stomach and intestines, where enzymes and acids further digest the food into macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, as well as micronutrients.

Understanding digestion is fundamental to nutrition because it allows the body to obtain the nutrients essential for energy, growth, and overall health. While metabolizing nutrients, absorbing vitamins and minerals, and eliminating waste are all crucial aspects of nutrition and health, they are distinct processes that follow digestion. Only the breakdown of food into smaller, absorbable units is accurately described by the definition of digestion.