Describe the process of digestion.

The process of digestion primarily involves the breakdown of food into smaller components so that the body can absorb the nutrients effectively. Initially, digestion begins in the mouth, where mechanical and chemical processes start to break food down. As food travels through the digestive tract, it continues to break down into simpler molecules by the action of enzymes, acids, and other digestive juices.

Once food is thoroughly broken down through both physical chewing and chemical enzymatic action, it is then in a form that can be absorbed by the intestinal walls into the bloodstream. This absorption allows the body to utilize the nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

While absorption of nutrients is a critical part of the overall digestion process, it is not itself digestion; it is a subsequent phase that follows the breakdown of food. Similarly, the elimination of waste products and the synthesis of proteins are processes that occur after digestion and nutrient absorption, but they do not encompass the entire scope of what digestion entails.

Thus, the definition that best describes digestion is the breakdown of food into smaller components, as this is the fundamental aspect of the digestive process that allows the body to access the nutrients necessary for energy and growth.