The digestive system converts the foods we eat into their simplest forms, like glucose (sugars), amino acids (that make up protein) or fatty acids (that make up fats). The broken-down food is then absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine and the nutrients are carried to each cell in the body.

What is food broken down into?

Along the way, food is broken down into tiny molecules so that the body can absorb nutrients it needs: Protein must be broken down into amino acids. Starches break down into simple sugars. Fats break down into into fatty acids and glycerol.

What is broken down food called?

Digestion is a form of catabolism that is often divided into two processes based on how food is broken down: mechanical and chemical digestion. The term mechanical digestion refers to the physical breakdown of large pieces of food into smaller pieces which can subsequently be accessed by digestive enzymes.